August Plant of the Month
Latin Name: Adiantum aleuticum
Common Name: Western maidenhair fern
Family: Pteridaceae
Type: Fern
Origin: West Coast of North America
Location at Bloedel Reserve: Rhododendron Glen, Japanese Garden
Garden Uses: Native woodland garden
Fun Fact: This moisture-loving fern grows well in shady spaces with well-drained soil. At the Reserve it thrives beside the waterfall in the Rhododendron Glen, where its soft, airy texture complements and contrasts the nearby horsetails and ferns. The word ‘adiantum’ in its Latin name refers to its moisture-wicking foliage, while ‘aleuticum’ pays homage to its origin in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest have used an infusion made from the foliage as hair wash as well as utilized the plant’s stems in basketry.
Photo by Martina Machackova
