Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Asplenium scolopendrium foliage, form by Liné1

    Photo by Liné1

    Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

    Show all photos

    Buy Asplenium scolopendrium

    Also Known As

    • Phyllitis scolopendrium
    • Scolopendrium vulgare
    • Hart's Tongue Fern

    Plant type

    fern

    size

    • H: 12"-24"
    • W: 12"-24"

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    1 gallon bagged root ball | $19

    Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total.

    Fewer than 28 at Gossler Farms

    4" - avail for orders shipping after March 1, 2026 | $18

    Ships USPS, based on weight/location

    Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

    More Options

    Asplenium scolopendrium plant details

    Asplenium scolopendrium is an evergreen fern with green foliage. Features glossy texture. Grows well with bright shade - shade and even moisture - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in alkaline, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Asplenium scolopendrium

    Plant type: fern
    Plant family: aspleniaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 12 IN - 24 IN - wide, 12 IN - 24 IN - tall
    Uses: border plant, container plant, leathery leaves, rock garden, woodland garden, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Asplenium scolopendrium

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - low
    Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: alkaline, average, rich and well-drained

    We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Hart's tongue fern have pointed undivided fronds. The glossy foliage has pretty buttonhole spores on the underside of the fronds. We have this fern under our mist bench in the greenhouse.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Very distinctive and affectionately known to fern enthusiasts as ?Scolly?, the EG strap-like fronds of this limestone-loving fern bear little resemblance to the frilly fronds of some ferns. Sh-PSh/M/GDr/Lime

    By: Forestfarm

    (HART’S TONGUE FERN)  Pretty, evergreen, leathery, tongue shaped leaves, arch upward 12-18” tall, some with wavy margins forming slowly expanding clumps. Part to full shade, regular water, best in well drained, humusy soils that are slightly alkaline.  Great candidate for pots.  Woodland, rock garden jewel. USDA Z5-9

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    The Hart's Tongue Fern is probably the most unusual looking of all the hardy ferns because of its solid fronds that are often wavy around the edges. Although they prefer shade, these plants will tolerate more sun than most other fern species. In fact, in the wild they are often found growing in cracks in exposed limestone outcrops with little protection from trees.

    Planting Instructions
    Depending on the season your fern may arrive with actively growing fronds or with the fronds pruned back to the crown level. Plant with the crown just poking out of the soil line and the top of the root mass covered by an inch or less of soil. We prune the roots before shipping plants to ensure they establish quickly, but make sure to spread the roots across the soil rather than balling them into a twisted lump when planting.

    Watering and Soil
    Ferns prefer to have consistent water through the summer but avoid keeping the ground too wet - lightly moist is ideal. If you are planting ferns in poor soil or boggy locations you can pile up shredded landscaping bark or aged compost and plant directly in that. Painted Ferns naturally grow in decades or centuries worth of decaying fallen needles and branches and don't actually need to grow directly in the soil. Just keep in mind that fresh materials consume a lot of nitrogen as they decompose so adding fertilizer each year ensures the plants will have access to enough to grow to their full potential. Organic matter dries out faster than soil and often doesn't absorb water again very well after drying out completely so drip systems or regular watering greatly improve water retention.

    By: Red Panda Nursery

    Zn 4. Lance-shaped bright foliage. Evergreen.

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    Upright fronds are erect with heart shaped bases & pointed apexes. Plant in partial sun to full shade in well drained, moist soil, responds well to basic soil with lime added. Zones 4 to 9. Size: 12” to 24”. Evergreen.

    By: Sebright Gardens

    Hart's Tongue Fern. A distinctive fern whose undissected pale green leaves sets it apart from its allies. A tidy evergreen compact clumper to 16" tall by 20"+ across which is easy to please and goes so well with Trilliums and Arisaemas. This one doesn't mind some alkalinity and we have seen this self-sowing on damp brick walls where it enjoys the good drainage. And it is rabbit resistant which we appreciate.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    Hart's tongue fern makes a beautiful specimen with light green undissected foliage that looks like tongues, hence the common name. The fronds are roughly oriented in a vase shape making this a great achitectural plant for the front of shade border which contrasts well in form with other shade perennials.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Evergreen, leathery, strap shaped fronds Zone 5-9. 8"-16", Eastern US, part shade-shade, moist, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    Hardy with a tropical look. Prefers lime-based soil. Happiest in shady spot. English origin. Although Aspleniums will perform fine in acid soils, they will appreciate a little lime or broken concrete mixed in with with annual topdressing.

    By: Bloom River Gardens

    Evergreen. Although naturally occurring in many areas, this medium sized fern prefers lime rich soil in moist sites. The uncut fronds are 8-28" in length and maintain a very dressy appearance for months. It is a good, solid filler for flower arrangments.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Evergreen fern with bright green, leathery, tongue-shaped fronds forming erect clumps up to 1-1.5 ft tall and wide. This European native for part to full shade is best grown in rich, very well-drained soil with average summer moisture. Thrives in alkaline, limestone soils as well. Frost hardy to -20F, USDA zone 5.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    A common fern that has been around, but still to be discovered by many and used to advantage; scolopendrium has a bold arching form with 2-3 inch wide, lustrous and puckered evergreen fronds. 16"T x 24"W

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Asplenium scolopendrium plant

    How to Grow Asplenium scolopendrium

    • Sun Exposure

      • bright shade - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • alkaline
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

    Landscape groups by tags

    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2025 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved