Hart’s Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium
Ferns Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
An unusual and distinctive fern with simple, undivided, glossy dark green fronds shaped like a deer’s tongue. Unlike most ferns, its strap-shaped leaves lack the typical pinnae divisions. A hardy evergreen that thrives in shady, lime-rich conditions, adding architectural interest to the garden.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Partial to full shade (2-4 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 1-2 weeks
💨
Humidity
Moderate to high (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
10-20°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining, lime-rich, alkaline to neutral soil with organic matter
🧪
Fertilizer
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during growing season
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
हार्ट्स टंग फर्न
BN
Bengali
হার্টস টাংগ ফার্ন
MR
Marathi
हार्ट्स टंग फर्न
TE
Telugu
హార్ట్స్ టాంగ్ ఫెర్న్
TA
Tamil
ஹார்ட்ஸ் டங் ஃபெர்ன்
GU
Gujarati
હાર્ટ્સ ટેંગ ફર્ન
UR
Urdu
ہارٹس ٹانگ فرن
KN
Kannada
ಹಾರ್ಟ್ಸ್ ಟಾಂಗ್ ಫರ್ನ್
OR
Odia
ହାର୍ଟସ୍ ଟଙ୍ଗ ଫର୍ନ
ML
Malayalam
ഹാർട്സ് ടങ്ങ് ഫേൺ
PA
Punjabi
ਹਾਰਟਸ ਟੰਗ ਫਰਨ
AS
Assamese
হাৰ্টছ টাংগ ফাৰ্ন
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia; found in shaded limestone areas
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Non-flowering
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Non-flowering (produces spores)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of clumps in spring; spore propagation on lime-rich media
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Common issues
- Crown rot from overwatering
- Scale insects on fronds
- Scorch marks from direct sun
💡 Care tips
- Unique undivided strap-shaped fronds unlike typical feathery ferns
- Excellent for growing in rock walls and crevices
- Prefer alkaline soil unlike most ferns that like acidic conditions
- Slow-growing and evergreen providing year-round structure
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 11 days, fertilizing every 35 days.
