DESCRIPTION: This variety is unusual in that it has simple, undivided fronds that are up to 2 feet long, resembling the shape of a tongue; yellowish and stunted in full sun; luxurious green foliage is a welcome addition to the garden as a groundcover

BOTANICAL NAME: Phyllitis scolopendrium 'Hart's Tongue'
OTHER NAMES: Asplenium scolopendrium
AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 35 cm
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 45 cm
SUN EXPOSURE: Partial sun to full shade
FLOWER COLOUR: N/A
FLOWERING TIME: N/A
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Shiny deep green
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 4 ( Should survive up to -34.4° Celsius ) - Requires protected location
WATER NEEDS: Moist
OTHER FEATURES: Attractive Foliage, Border, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

Ornamental Features

Hart's Tongue Fern's attractive glossy narrow leaves remain green in colour throughout the year. The flowers are not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes

Hart's Tongue Fern is an herbaceous evergreen fern with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Hart's Tongue Fern is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Hart's Tongue Fern will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. It can be propagated by division.

Hart's Tongue Fern is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception.