Xela's Garden

Fern Hart's Tongue [V]

Planted 09.09 Vistabile utility border
Bought '09 Morrisons

Common Name: Hart's tongue fern
Genus: Asplenium
Species: scolopendrium
Skill Level: Experienced
Exposure: Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist, Boggy
Height: 60cm
Spread: 60cm
Time to divide plants: March to May

The evergreen hart's tongue fern grows wild in shaded areas, often forming large 'drifts' under trees amongst 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 gardens, and are also invaluable for year round interest amongst shrubs or other shade and moisture loving perennials. Once planted, hart's tongue fern 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).

Looks good with:
Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign'
Aconitum napellus

[Source: www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder]

Photos of this plant

Reminders for this plant

Due about 11 years ago:

Divide

Divide in Spring. Peeled leaf bases can be taken off from where the stem joins with the root. Old leaf bases that are green at the base are incubated in a plastic bag of loam based media. Green swellings can be found and potted to raise new plants

Tidy + mulch

mulch and tidy in spring.