Asplenium trichomanes

RHS Plant Profile
maidenhair spleenwort

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maidenhair spleenwort visionspictures.com
maidenhair spleenwort visionspictures.com

Other common names

common spleenwort, English maidenhair, green spleenwort, waterwort

Synonyms

Asplenium trichomanoides

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Ferns
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A compact, evergreen terrestrial fern to about 15cm tall, with creeping rhizomes and forming a rosette of blackish-stemmed, pinnate, dark green fronds with small, rounded or oblong segments; well-suited to planting in a dry wall

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Aspleniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted, Clump forming
Genus
Asplenium are evergreen ferns with short, usually erect rhizomes bearing a rosette of slightly leathery fronds which may be simple, pinnate to 3-pinnate
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
N Termperate, Tropical Mountains

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, with added grit, in partial shade. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division, or propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe at 15°C

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors

Diseases

Generally disease-free