Asplenium scol. ‘Angustifolia’ RHS AGM 1 litre

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Angustifolia’ is a wonderfully elegant twist on the classic hart’s-tongue fern. Instead of the usual broad, glossy strap-like fronds, this cultivar sports much narrower, ribbon-like leaves, giving it a slightly aristocratic air. It typically reaches 30–45 cm tall and forms a neat, upright, vase-shaped clump of fresh, shiny green fronds.

It’s delightfully unfussy: give it partial to full shade, moist, humus-rich soil, and a spot sheltered from harsh winds, and it will reward you with year-round structure. It’s also surprisingly tolerant of a little dryness once established — though it will accept water with the gracious nod of a plant that knows it deserves it.

Interesting fact: The species was traditionally called “Hart’s Tongue Fern” because the fronds resemble a deer’s tongue — a comparison both charming and slightly alarming, depending on how much imagination you apply.

Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM)