Asplenium scolopendrium

Description

Asplenium scolopendrium – hart’s tongue fern

Botanical name: Asplenium scolopendrium
Common names: Hart’s tongue fern
Family: Aspleniaceae
Plant type: Evergreen fern
Habit: Clump-forming, upright
Pot size: 9cm pot
Eventual size: Approx. 45–60cm tall × 45–60cm spread
Foliage: Glossy, undivided, strap-shaped bright green fronds forming bold rosettes; evergreen
Flowers: None — ferns reproduce by spores, not flowers
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; tolerates lime; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 5–8
Exposure: Sheltered
Native range: Native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Asplenium scolopendrium, the hart’s tongue fern, is an evergreen with glossy, undivided strap-shaped bright green fronds forming bold rosettes. An architectural, easy fern for moist shade, woodland borders and shaded walls.

GardenAdvice notes

A striking native evergreen fern, the hart’s tongue is unusual among ferns in having undivided, strap-shaped fronds, which form bold, glossy rosettes of fresh green. Architectural and long-lived, it is one of the finest ferns for year-round structure in shade, thriving in moist, humus-rich, even limy soils and happily colonising shady walls and banks.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds. Work in leaf mould or compost to hold moisture, and space according to the ultimate size, generally about 45–60cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep the soil from drying out, especially while establishing, and mulch with leaf mould in autumn. Remove old, tatty or frost-burnt fronds in early spring before the new growth unfurls. No feeding is usually needed beyond an annual mulch.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide congested clumps in spring.
• Spores: Can be raised from spores, and it often self-sows into shady walls and paving crevices.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and robust. Slugs and snails may graze the soft young fronds as they unfurl in spring, and fronds can scorch in dry or exposed positions. Moist soil and shelter keep it looking its best.

Uses in the garden

Superb for shady and woodland borders, north-facing beds, shaded walls and banks, cool courtyards and among other shade plants, giving bold evergreen structure all year

Wildlife value

The fronds and crown provide cover and shelter for small invertebrates through the year.

Toxicity & safety

Ferns are generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets, though as with all ornamental plants they are not intended for eating.

GardenAdvice tip

The hart’s tongue is one of the best ferns for bold, glossy structure in a shady spot, and it will happily seed itself into damp shady walls and paving cracks, which is usually a delight rather than a problem. Give it moist, humus-rich soil and shelter from drying winds, and cut away the old fronds each spring to show off the fresh new growth.

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