makaka

Adiantum aethiopicum | maidenhair, makaka, true maidenhair

A delicate fern with graceful, fan-shaped leaflets held on fine black stems, forming soft, yellow-green foliage. It spreads by creeping rhizomes that can create a dense groundcover in sheltered, moist sites. Outdoors it thrives in dappled shade with consistently damp, well-drained soil, eventually reaching around 50 cm tall, though often smaller when grown in pots. Well suited to ferneries, shaded borders, or as an underplanting, it is also a favourite indoor fern — especially in bathrooms or kitchens where humidity helps it flourish. Over time, a protective skirt of old fronds builds up around the base, supporting new growth and best left undisturbed.