- Botanical name: Asplenium scolopendrium
- Common name: Hart's tongue fern
- Family: Aspleniaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
The evergreen hart’s tongue fern, Asplenium scolopendrium, grows wild in shaded areas, often forming large drifts beneath trees among rocks and streams where its upright pointed ‘tongues’ contrast strikingly with the softer shapes of damp-loving wild flowers. In gardens, the plants are good for shaded wild areas, and are also invaluable for year round interest among shrubs or other shade and moisture loving perennials.
Once planted, Asplenium scolopendrium grows slowly and needs little attention apart from annual mulching and tidying in spring. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
How to grow Asplenium scolopendrium
-
Plant size
60cm height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade, full shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / boggy
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plant | ||||||||||||
Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Divide | ||||||||||||
Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Asplenium scolopendrium and wildlife
Asplenium scolopendrium has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Asplenium scolopendrium poisonous?
Asplenium scolopendrium has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People