Genus: Adiantum

Had to check my spelling.. It is (properly) Osmunda cinnamomea...bracken fern... grows lush and tall, I have some in my back garden...think I have a pic in my Garden page...

Peanut Brittle = broken teeth if you're not careful! I steer clear of it...

I'll have to look at Cinnamonea - don't know that one!

Many years ago my Dad tried to keep adiantum aleuticum growing (on an island in Muskoka Lake) and finally had to admit that it was not hardy enough to survive successive cold winters... The property owner called it "Maidenhair fern" and loved it's black stems and laciness... but had to settle for cinnamomea. NOte: have recently found that you call peanuts "Monkey nuts" lol... downsouth they're called Goober Peas! Tis the season for Peanut Brittle!!

I think it's a native fern.

This is a great plant, I love the little leaves!

Telme8, this species is a tropical species which doesn't like cold weather, however, I know there are some hardier species of Adiantum...which would probably do well in Wales. They may die back in the Winter depending on how cold you get, but will come back in Spring.

Terratoonie, our water is horrible here, it is very bad for many species of tropical plants I grow...especially my 6 1/2 foot coffee tree. I have to leach the soil many times to try to prevent the leaves from brown-tipping (which they do anyway). When and if we get some good rains the leaves tend to look better.

Didn't realise your area has hard water.
This is a problem also in parts of my region of England.

Hi Delonix, I was suprised to hear you are growing the maiden hair fern outside , then realised you are in America not Britain, what temprature will they tollerate in the Winter, I only know them as an indoor plant from my Aunt and parents days, they always had a maiden hair on the windowsill facing North, now I know why if they like shade! I was never successful at growing them in my younger married years they always died, but if you say they like plenty of water that explains why, as I am no indoor gardener!!! the only indoor plants that survive with me are ones who thrive on neglect!!! I don't see them about in houses now like when I was a youngster, probably out of fashion! but I do love them. I just thought with all the rain we get in this country perhaps I could grow one outside, even if I grew it in a large pot and brought it in?

I can see why it's in the top ten... I like the other maidenhair too...now that I have cinnamomea established, I just might try a maidenhair...getting adventurous, I am.

It is a native, I read somewhere it is on the top ten list of perennial ferns. It is deciduous unfortunately as it is doing a great job of hiding an ugly downspout right now.

I've never seen this type of maidenhair before. Is it a western native...I know the climate out there fosters every kind of fern imaginable. is it decidous?

Peanut is a legume, their foliage looks a lot like peas.

VERY glad to say that we don't get squirrels! We were plagued by them in Kent, they dug up bulbs and plants, buried acorns and conkers, did all kinds of damage! What do peanut plants look like?

wonderful!... I love the ones I didn't plant as much as the ones I laboured over. If you leave peanuts for your squirrels you'll have peanuts sprouting too.

Great to get a little bonus like this.

Ur so lucky i love this little fern how super :)

These are wonderful and can be found here in Massachusetts. I will be on the lookout for some soon as I am planning to put in a Hosta and Fern garden on the side of my front porch.

Don't you just love flowers that bring back memories like that !! The Jack-in-the-Pulpit does that for me. My grandmother lived next to a wood and showed me my first 'Jack'. She loved her zinnias too, and showed me how to dry black walnuts in the attic. Very special memories.

I LOVE Maidenhair fern. My grandmother had it in her greenhouses as a ground cover. It brings back wonderful memories! : )