Fern
Hart's tongue fern
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Prune | Prune in March | |||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in March | Looks good in April | Looks good in May | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September | Looks good in October | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Unlike most ferns, its fronds are undivided: long, leathery, bright green tongues arranged in a loose shuttlecock. On the undersides, rusty spore lines sit in neat rows like the bars of a herringbone. It is a native plant that turns up in damp woods, old walls and stone wells, especially on limestone. Garden forms include 'Crispum', with wavy, frilled edges, 'Undulatum', and 'Cristatum', whose tips fork into crests.
Where to grow hart's tongue fern
Plant it in shade or part shade in soil that stays moist but not waterlogged. It is one of the few ferns that actively prefers alkaline ground, so chalky gardens suit it well. It will root into crevices in shady walls and steps, and looks good beside hellebores and snowdrops.
Planting
Plant in spring or autumn, 45 cm apart, with the crown just at soil level. Work in leaf mould and add a little lime-rich grit on acid soils.
Care through the year
Spring
Snip off scorched or tatty old fronds as new ones unroll.
Summer
Water in dry spells; keep out of hot afternoon sun.
Autumn
Mulch lightly with leaf mould.
Winter
Fronds stay green, though hard frost can mark them.
Pruning
In early spring, remove old fronds that are damaged by winter weather, cutting them at the base. Healthy fronds can stay for another year.
Propagation
Divide established clumps in spring. Unusually, you can also raise new plants from the frond bases: pull off old stalk bases, lay them on damp compost in a covered tray, and tiny plantlets form.
Common problems
Generally healthy. Fronds yellow or brown in sun or dry soil. Slugs and snails may hide in the clump and graze the fronds; vine weevil can trouble plants in pots.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.