This week’s favorite is easily overlooked most of the year. It’s small and kind of fragile looking; so much so I was sure it couldn’t be hardy when I first saw one. But it is, rock sold hardy to Zone 5a and evergreen into the mid-teens…
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My Adiantum venustum weathered that sub-freezing week in December and a night at 12F and still looks good. These two were planted (too close together) last spring. When I say it’s easily overlooked it’s mainly do to my cram-scaping. The taller plants grow up around it and it becomes hard to see. Right now when most have them have died back I find myself wishing I had more (and looking at this photo wishing I'd taken the time to clean up a little)…
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It’s the black wiry stems that really make this plant for me. They act as the perfect counterpoint to the small green leaflets.
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They look great in containers too.
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The only time they don’t look great is when the gardener neglects to give them the moisture they need over a long dry summer. These are on the north side of the house and I just didn’t pay enough attention to them.
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Still they are kind of pretty with the mosaic of different colors, just not as lush looking as the ones up top.
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The stats:
I might cut these two back hard in the spring and hope they quickly bounce back to their nice 2ft wide mound, only with bight green foliage (they’ve been in the ground for a little over 2 years, starting out from a small 2.5” container).
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Do you have a stand-out plant in your garden this week? Please tell us about it!
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All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
My Adiantum venustum weathered that sub-freezing week in December and a night at 12F and still looks good. These two were planted (too close together) last spring. When I say it’s easily overlooked it’s mainly do to my cram-scaping. The taller plants grow up around it and it becomes hard to see. Right now when most have them have died back I find myself wishing I had more (and looking at this photo wishing I'd taken the time to clean up a little)…
It’s the black wiry stems that really make this plant for me. They act as the perfect counterpoint to the small green leaflets.
They look great in containers too.
The only time they don’t look great is when the gardener neglects to give them the moisture they need over a long dry summer. These are on the north side of the house and I just didn’t pay enough attention to them.
Still they are kind of pretty with the mosaic of different colors, just not as lush looking as the ones up top.
The stats:
- also known as Himalayan Maidenhair Fern, and yes, it’s native to the Himalayas
- hardy in USADA Zones 5a-8b and prefers light shade with plentiful moisture, although some sources say it can tolerate dry soil when established (which I guess is why my two oldest plants are still alive)
- eventual size 6-12” tall, 2-3’ wide
- new growth is said to have a warm bronze blush but I honestly don’t recall seeing it
I might cut these two back hard in the spring and hope they quickly bounce back to their nice 2ft wide mound, only with bight green foliage (they’ve been in the ground for a little over 2 years, starting out from a small 2.5” container).
Do you have a stand-out plant in your garden this week? Please tell us about it!
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.