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Western Maiden Hair Fern
Photo by Allen Philips 5-25-2003; 9-29-2007; amd 7-27-2007
Western maiden hair fern Adiantum aleuticum (the upper right photo has deer fern and sword fern fronds in the background)
We have found these ferns on Bainbridge Island in Eagle Harbor Park and on Broomgerry, and from discussions with old timers, they were somewhat common at many other locations in the past. The specimens at the Tree Garden came from the woods on the east side of the Island. These ferns typically colonize the vertical banks of swiftly flowing streams were there might be some water spray or seeps, and tolerate deeper shade than sword of bracken ferns.
Physically they range from 6" to 24" high on one dark narrow stalk with a swirl of fronds and leaves arranged in a horizontal plane. A clump might send out 4-10 stalks. The are deciduous.
They need more water than the sword fern, but less than a lady fern. They don't colonize standing water like a lady fern.
updated 9/2007 by Allen Philips