Skip to main content

Hart’s-tongue Fern

Asplenium scolopendrium

Months

Season

Colour

This evergreen plant has long, tongue shaped leaves with a pointy end.

Distribution

Widespread across Britain, except in the far north.

Habitat

Can be found in sheltered moist habitats such as woods, on hedge banks, in walls and in ditches.

Did you know?

  • The underside of the leaves have little marks reminiscent of centipedes legs, leading to the species name ‘scolopendrium’ (the Latin for centipede!)
  • A hart was an old name for a deer, so the plant was so-named as it specifically looks like a deer’s tongue.

Other Species

Ground Ivy
A photo showing the bright blue flowers of Ground Ivy against it's green leaves and blades of grass.

Ground Ivy

Glechoma hederacea
Read more
Lady’s-slipper

Lady’s-slipper

Read more
Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Read more