Description
Asplenium – Spleenwort – Ceterach – Phyllitis
There are over 700 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen terrestrial and epiphytic ferns, in this genus. They are found in a wide range of habitats. They produce short erect, or creeping rhizomes that bear tufts of fronds, which may be feathery or bipinnate but could be unevenly divided. Some forms “bird’s nest” in which the fronds are smooth, un-lobed, un-toothed that overlap to form a nest, in which organic matter collects. Sori are linear and usually run parallel along the midribs towards the edge of the fronds. They’re great for many situations in wall crevices, rock gardens, shady border, woodland garden even as a houseplant.
When grown outdoors grow in humus rich, moist but well-drained soil with additional grit in partial shade. Divide in early spring.
Prone to scale insects, mealy bugs, deformation due to over fertilization, and bacterial leaf disease, and foliar nematodes can occur.
Asplenium scolopendrium Marginatum Group – Phyllitis scolopendrium Marginatum Group – Scolopendrium vulgare Marginatum Group – Hart’s Tongue Fern – These cultivars are tetraploid terrestrial evergreen fern grows to 14” tall and spreads to 24” wide. From erect short creeping rhizomes it sprouts irregular shuttlecock like crowns of strap shaped fronds. vary from fertile fronds with toothed or irregular edges and often fleshy ridges of tissue running along the undersides close to the edges, that are leathery, glossy bright green to 16” or more long. Fronds are heart shaped at the base often with wavy edges.
Zones 6-8
