Adiantum capillus-veneris
Southern maidenhair
(c) Brooke Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brooke Smith · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern maidenhair) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by pinnule cutting depth and spore cluster characteristics are key.
Southern maidenhair is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges, high Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, Great Basin, and desert regions in shaded, rocky or moist banks at elevations up to 2,300 meters. Its delicate, intricate fronds spread 20 to 40 centimeters long with distinctive dark brown to nearly black stems. Growing as a graceful fern with multiple layers of finely divided pinnate leaves, its fronds feature small pinnules with irregular lobes that often cut more than one-quarter way to the base. Its leaves have uniquely angled margins that converge at 45 to 90 degrees, creating an elegant, lacy appearance with complex leaf divisions. The fern produces distinctive sori (spore clusters) between 2 to 11 per pinnule, typically less than 5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; pinnule cutting depth and spore cluster characteristics are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon (or locally common). Shaded, rocky or moist banks, exposed sites or not
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Glenn, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Humboldt, Fresno, Tulare, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Mendocino, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Marin, Mariposa, Placer, Nevada, Yolo
Outside California: generally southern United States, worldwide, especially temperate
How to tell it apart
vs Polystichum: Adiantum has fan-shaped leaflets on black stems; sword ferns have narrow pointed segments on brown stems.; vs Pellaea: Feel the leaflet - Adiantum is thin and delicate, Pellaea is thick and leathery.; vs Thalictrum: Adiantum has spore cases under rolled leaf edges; meadow-rue has flowers and seeds, not spores.; vs Polypodium: Adiantum has fan-shaped leaflets with spores under margins; polypody has elongated segments with round sori.; vs Pentagramma: Adiantum leaflets are thin and delicate; goldback fern leaflets are thicker with powder underneath.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adiantum capillus-veneris native to California?
Yes. Adiantum capillus-veneris is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Adiantum capillus-veneris grow?
Adiantum capillus-veneris occurs in Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Inyo, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Adiantum capillus-veneris belong to?
Adiantum capillus-veneris is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Adiantum.
What habitat does Adiantum capillus-veneris grow in?
Adiantum capillus-veneris grows in Uncommon (or locally common). Shaded, rocky or moist banks, exposed sites or not.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.