Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum)

Hart's Tongue Fern
Scientific Name: Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum (Fern.) Kartesz & Gandhi
Synonym: Phyllitis japonica ssp. americana, Phyllitis scolopendrium var. americana, Scolopendrium vulgare
Family: Polypodiaceae

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Phyllitis scolopendrium var. americana, Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 25.

Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset: 2-24
USDA: 6-9

Heat Tolerance: Not well adapted to dry summers

Sun Exposure: Moist part shade to full shade

Origin: Eastern USA, threatened in the wild, CITES Appendix I

Growth Habits: Cluster of evergreen strap-shaped fronds from a short underground root, 16 to 24 inches tall (40-60 cm) or more, each frond is 5 to 16 inches long (12-40 cm), and 0.8 to 1.8 inches wide (2-4.5 cm)

Watering Needs: Regular water, humid air

Propagation: Spores, divisions in late winter, leaf base cuttings

Cultural Practices:
Likes calcareous soils.

Blooming Habits:
The fronds of this plant are covered with linear cinnamon-colored stripes. These stipes are spore-producing, reproductive structures (sporangia).

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