“Hart's tongue fern is this really cool evergreen, hardy fern that grows wide, flat fronds instead of the dainty, lacy ones you'd normally expect from a fern. Its bold texture is a wonderful…”
Clethra viridis
Choose Hart's Tongue Fern as a Unique Accent for the Shade Garden
Hart's tongue fern is this really cool evergreen, hardy fern that grows wide, flat fronds instead of the dainty, lacy ones you'd normally expect from a fern. Its bold texture is a wonderful complement to other shade-loving foliage plants, and that upright vase shape is such a nice change of pace from all the mounding forms you usually see in a woodland garden.
Common name: Hart's tongue fern
Botanical name: Asplenium scolopendrium
Foliage: The evergreen fronds are long, broad, and flat with wavy edges and a ribbed texture. They range from bright to deep green depending on the season, getting a bit darker as they age.
Size and habit: Thanks to its upright-to-arching fronds, this fern grows in a lovely vase shape. It reaches about 18 inches tall and wide.
Growing hart's tongue fern
Exposure: Part shade, dappled light, full shade
How to grow it: Tuck hart's tongue fern into a shade garden where it gets very little direct sun. It likes regular, even moisture but needs good drainage so it doesn't rot. Like a lot of woodland plants, it thrives in rich soil built up with organic matter — fallen leaves work beautifully. USDA Zones 5–9.
Image credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
