Hart's-tongue fern
Phyllitis scolopendrium
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
shade
Water
medium
Size
8"–18" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaEvergreen fern with distinctive, undivided, glossy, strap-shaped fronds, unlike most ferns. Found in cool, shaded limestone sinkholes and ravines, forming a rare disjunct population.
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.
- When does Hart's-tongue fern bloom?
- Hart's-tongue fern blooms in June, July, and August.
- 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.
Ready to grow Hart's-tongue fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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