SafePlants

California Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum jordanii)

The Adiantum jordanii, commonly known as the California maidenhair fern, is a delicate and elegant fern species native to the western United States and Baja California. This fern is prized for its lush green foliage and ability to thrive in shaded, moist environments.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that California maidenhair fern has soft foliage.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions that California maidenhair fern has soft foliage.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Adiantum jordanii C.H. Mull. or Adiantum jordanii Mueller
• Common Name: California maidenhair fern, California maiden-hair, Jordan's Maidenhair
• Family: Pteridaceae
• Subfamily: Vittarioideae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to California and Oregon, extending south into Baja California.
• Found in shaded woods, often under oaks and pines.
• Prefers moist environments and can tolerate dry summer conditions by going dormant.
• Specific locations mentioned include Yuba and Sutter Counties, Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (Sonoma County, California), Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, and Mt. Diablo.
• A new species is mentioned to be endemic to northern California and is currently known only from Shasta County.

Morphological Characteristics

• A perennial, stress-deciduous maidenhair fern.
• Typically grows to two feet tall and one foot wide.
• Features bright green leaves and contrasting black stems.
• Has delicate, lacy fronds with small, rounded, fan-shaped segments.
• Rhizomatous and fibrous-rooted.

Quirky Facts

• California maidenhair ferns sometimes hybridize naturally with Western five-finger ferns.

Further Information

• UC Davis Rizzo Lab (photo credit)
• Stephen Bay and BayImages.net (photo credit)
• Dave's Garden (community forum)
• Discover Life (biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution)