The Asplenium scolopendrium, better known as the Hart's tongue fern, is one of the most distinctive of all our native ferns and a superb evergreen for the shady garden. Where most ferns are finely cut and feathery, this one breaks the mould with undivided, strap-shaped fronds of glossy bright green that arch out in bold rosettes, giving a lush, almost tropical texture in the darkest corners.Rated RHS H6, it is fully hardy right across the UK and holds its foliage through winter, so the fresh green fronds keep working when the rest of the border has died back. New croziers unfurl each spring to join the older leaves, and because it is evergreen the plant never leaves a bare gap. It is a UK native, thriving in the cool, humus-rich, shaded conditions found in ancient woodland and on old stone walls.How and where to grow Position: partial to deep shade, ideal for that tricky north-facing bed or a spot beneath trees where little else will grow. Soil: humus-rich, moist but well-drained ground; it is happily lime-tolerant and does especially well on neutral to alkaline and chalky soils. Size: forming a clump around 45-60 cm tall and 50-60 cm across over a few seasons. Hardiness: reliably hardy and evergreen across the country, needing no winter protection. Water regularly through the first year while the roots settle, keeping the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Once established it is a tough, low-maintenance plant that asks for little beyond an annual tidy of tired old fronds. It is wonderfully versatile: use it to light up a shady shade planting, to add glossy contrast in exotic borders, or to fill a container in a cool courtyard as part of a pot display. Its leathery, salt-tolerant fronds also stand up well in coastal and exposed gardens, and it pairs beautifully with feathery partners such as Dryopteris erythrosora and Athyrium.Part of our wider range of hardy exotics, every Hart's tongue fern we send is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and packed with care. For a guide to how hardy plants settle in through the seasons, see our what to expect notes.
