Hart's-tongue fern
Phyllitis scolopendrium
Last reviewed: November 2026
Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) is a perennial fern native to AL, MD, MI, NJ and 3 more states.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Hart's-tongue fern, free in the app.
Toxicity unknown
Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
shade
Water
medium
Size
8"–18" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, MD, MI, NJ and 3 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Evergreen fern with distinctive, undivided, glossy, strap-shaped fronds, unlike most ferns. Found in cool, shaded limestone sinkholes and ravines, forming a rare disjunct population.
Growing Hart's-tongue fern
Grow Hart's-tongue fern in shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 8 to 18 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Provides year-round shelter for small woodland invertebrates in the cool, moist microhabitats where it grows.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hart's-tongue fern need?
- Hart's-tongue fern grows best in shade conditions.
- Where is Hart's-tongue fern native?
- Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) is native to AL, MD, MI, NJ and 3 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Hart's-tongue fern? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.