Hart's Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium
Hart's Tongue Fern is a perennial for groundcover, mid-border, suited to shade and partial shade and clay, loam or acid soil, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Spread | 60 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-9a, RHS H6 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 60 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 60 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 9a and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, evergreen plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Hart's Tongue Fern's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Azaleafor height behind it
- Barrenwort 'Frohnleiten'to edge in front
- Bergenia 'Purpurea'to edge in front
- Black mondo grassto edge in front
- Blue Windflowerto edge in front
- Bugleto edge in front