PlantFiles: Hart's Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium

Asplenium scolopendrium is fairly common in nurseries locally, and has thrived here in zone 9b. Native to Europe.

The American Hart's-tongue Fern, Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum, is generally smaller. It is considered threatened and is listed as a U.S. federal government protected plant.

I was very pleased when I found this in Wayside's catalog 2 years ago, I planted it and the next day when I went to water it, it was gone! Something ate it all the way down to the ground!!! I figured I wasn't going to plant another one just to feed whatever critter decided to use it for dinner. So sad.

Although this plant is only reported to grow in several counties in Michigan, we have always made a point to be on the lookout for it when visiting Northern Michigan each summer. On a recent botanical field trip to the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, we were pleased to find them growing profusely on Devonian Shield/Niagara Escarpment limestone alvars throughout the woodlands there.

I have grown this fern for three years now (Z5) and it was doing ok. This year I learned that it prefers an alkaline soil so I purchased some hydrated lime and sprinkled it around the plant and then watered it in. I have to say that within a few weeks the plant was improving and by the end of the season you could definately say the plant has never looked better.

Hart's Tongue fern survived well through our hot, dry summer. It got lots of water, plenty of shade, and rich, loamy soil.

Edgewood, Washington
Have great success with the hart's tongue fern here outside in our acid soil. Also have a sport that is crested. The crested one looks almost like a head of fresh garden lettuce. Both are winners. Each has its own merits.

I used to try and try to keep birdsnest ferns alive as house plants. Then I found the Heart's Tongue Fern, which grows quite nicely in my garden and I'll never buy another birdsnest fern.

Although it may prefer alkaline soil, mine do just fine in acidic soil.

A terrestrial fern from Europe and Western Asia.

Has broadly lance or strap shaped, glossy, mid-green, evergreen fronds each with a wavy margin.

Loves fertile, constantly moist but well-drained soil in partial shade and is one of the few Asplenium species that prefers an alkaline soil.

The plant pictured dropped out of the sky one day and just missed me by a foot. It had been dislodged by the workmen removing the chimney. It was promptly planted in it's new position and has grown happily ever since.