Description
Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustatum' is a narrow-leaved form of the UK native hart's tongue fern, and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It forms a compact rosette of narrow, glossy, bright green, strap-shaped fronds with ruffled edges that stay green all year.
'Angustatum' at a glance
| Botanical name |
Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustatum' (syn. Phyllitis scolopendrium) |
| Common name |
Hart's tongue fern |
| Plant type |
Evergreen fern; does not flower |
| Height and spread |
Up to about 45 cm tall, 10–50 cm wide |
| Flowers |
None – a fern; spores form under the fronds |
| Position |
Part shade or shade |
| Soil |
Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil with added grit; neutral to alkaline |
| Pond depth |
None – not for wet or waterlogged ground |
| Hardiness |
RHS H6 – hardy in a very cold winter (-20 to -15°C) |
| Native to |
Garden form of the UK native hart's tongue fern |
Is hart's tongue fern a bog plant?
No. It is a shade fern for moist but well-drained soil, not a bog or water plant, and the RHS recommends adding grit. It suits a shady, moist spot near a pond, but keep it well above the water line and out of waterlogged ground.
Where to plant it
- Shady borders and woodland gardens
- Shady banks and walls, where it grows in the wild
- A shady pond surround, well above the water line
How to care for it
It is generally pest-free outdoors, though a rust fungus may affect it in mild, damp winters.
Which size should I buy?
Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.
