Maidenhair ferns are soft and lacy plants with more than 200 species. These finely foliaged, evergreen plants can grow to 1 metre in height (about 3') but are more commonly smaller growing. Maidenhair ferns grow from underground rhizomes and have brownish/black leaf stalks from which the fronds unfold to display their apple-green leaflets.

The range of leaf shapes and growth habits is staggering. Foliage comes in all forms and sizes, some fine leafed, others variegated, and some scalloped. Some species are certainly tougher than others.