Hart's tongue fern 'Crispum Bolton's Nobile' Asplenium scolopendrium (Crispum Group) 'Crispum Bolton's Nobile'
ABOUT
'Crispum Bolton's Nobile' is an evergreen fern forming a handsome rosette of broad, rich green, strap-like fronds to 30 by 10cm, with strongly undulate margins; sterile
About this plant
NamesFamily
Aspleniaceae
Synonyms
Hart's Tongue Fern, Crispum Hart's Tongue Fern, Bolton's Nobile Fern
Common names
Asplenium scolopendrium var. crispum 'Bolton's Nobile'
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
6
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Visual Appeal: Asplenium scolopendrium 'Crispum Bolton's Nobile', commonly known as Hart's Tongue Fern, has distinctive, wavy-edged leaves that add unique texture to gardens or indoor plant arrangements.
- Shade Tolerance: Hart's Tongue Fern thrives in shaded environments, making it suitable for woodland gardens or darker areas of the home.
- Low Maintenance: This fern requires minimal care once established, needing only occasional watering and no pruning to keep its appearance.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, Hart's Tongue Fern can tolerate periods of dryness, making it ideal for gardeners in areas with less frequent rainfall.
- Evergreen Nature: As an evergreen plant, Hart's Tongue Fern provides year-round interest and color to gardens or indoor spaces.
- Wildlife Friendly: The plant can provide habitat and shelter for various invertebrates, contributing to biodiversity in the garden.
- Soil Versatility: Hart's Tongue Fern can adapt to a range of soil types, though it prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil, making it a versatile addition to many landscapes.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Artistic Inspiration: Its unique leaf shape and texture can serve as a muse for artists and designers seeking inspiring natural forms for their works.
- Educational Tool: It can be used in botany classes to teach about plant morphology, especially the variations of fern leaf structures.
- Photography Subject: Due to its aesthetic appeal, it is a great subject for botanical photographers looking to capture the beauty of plants.
- Terrarium Component: This fern can be added to terrariums to create a lush, green backdrop for other plants and decorative elements.
- Theme Gardens: Can be used in thematic gardens that focus on foliage rather than flowers to provide a consistent green aesthetic.
- Feng Shui: Some practitioners may use it to balance energy in homes and offices by adding a natural, peaceful element to interior spaces.
- Costume Design: The fronds could inspire elements of costume design for stage productions, especially those set in forested or natural environments.
- Texture in Flower Arrangements: Provides a unique texture contrast when added to bouquets or flower arrangements.
- Backdrop in Aquariums: The visual likeness to aquatic plants makes it suitable as a backdrop in paludariums or vivariums to create an underwater-like scene.
- Craft Material: Dried fronds can be used in various crafts, such as making bookmarks or framing for decorative purposes.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Hart's Tongue Fern is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Hart's Tongue Fern is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Resilience: The Asplenium scolopendrium, commonly known as Hart's Tongue Fern, is a hardy plant that can grow in challenging conditions such as shady and moist areas, symbolizing the ability to thrive amidst difficulties.
- Evergreen: As an evergreen plant, the Hart's Tongue Fern represents perpetual life and immortality, maintaining a vibrant green color all year round.
- Shelter: Ferns like Hart's Tongue create a canopy in their natural habitat, symbolizing protection and shelter for smaller plants and wildlife.
- Healing: Historically, ferns have been associated with medicinal properties, and the Hart's Tongue Fern is no exception, symbolizing health and healing powers.
- Solitude: As a plant that often grows in solitary patches on forest floors, Hart's Tongue Fern can symbolize a need for solitude or self-reflection.
- Secretiveness: In Victorian times, ferns were associated with secretiveness and discretion, partly due to their hidden reproductive parts, making the Hart's Tongue Fern a symbol of mystery.
WaterThe Hart's Tongue Fern requires consistent moisture without being waterlogged. Water the plant whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which may be roughly every 5-7 days, depending on environmental conditions. It's important to provide enough water to moisten the soil thoroughly but avoid standing water, which can be achieved with about half a gallon every week for a medium-sized pot. During winter or in cooler temperatures, reduce the frequency to prevent root rot as the plant's water needs decrease.
LightHart's Tongue Fern thrives in bright, indirect light or partial shade. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves. A north-facing window is an ideal location, providing the necessary light without the intense direct rays of the sun. If kept indoors, ensure it is placed in a well-lit room but away from direct sunlight.
TemperatureHart's Tongue Fern prefers a temperate environment, with ideal temperatures ranging between 65°F and 75°F. It can tolerate a minimum of 50°F, making it suitable for most indoor settings. High temperatures and dry air can harm the plant, so avoid placing it near heat sources or in rooms that can exceed 75°F.
PruningPruning Hart's Tongue Fern is mostly done to remove any brown or damaged fronds to maintain a tidy appearance and encourage healthy growth. Periodic pruning is sufficient, typically every few months or as needed when damaged fronds are observed. The best time to prune is during the active growing season, in spring or early summer.
CleaningAs needed
SoilHart's tongue fern thrives in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. An ideal soil mix can be composed of one part garden soil, one part compost, and one part perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage.
RepottingHart's tongue fern generally should be repotted every two to three years, or when it outgrows its pot, to refresh the soil and provide more space for growth.
Humidity & MistingHart's tongue fern prefers high humidity levels, around 60-70%, which can be achieved by placing the plant in a humid room or using a humidity tray.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light with high humidity.
Outdoor
Plant in shade, keep moist, and protect from harsh sun.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleHart's Tongue Fern 'Crispum Bolton's Nobile' begins its life cycle as spores, which are produced in sori on the undersides of mature fronds. These spores are dispersed by wind and, if landing in a suitable moist environment, germinate to form a gametophyte—a small, flat, green structure that supports sexual reproduction. Gametophytes develop male and female organs, which upon fertilization, grow into a new sporophyte—the recognizable fern plant. This fern develops a rhizome from which fronds uncurl in a fiddlehead shape, mature, and unfurl to display the characteristic wavy, crinkled edges. The fronds perform photosynthesis, allowing the fern to grow and thrive in moist, shaded environments. As the plant matures, it produces new spores, and the cycle begins anew.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Early Summer
The Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium 'Crispum Bolton's Nobile') is generally propagated by spores, which is the most popular method for this species. The ideal time to collect spores is late summer when the spore cases on the underside of the fronds, called sporangia, turn brown and ripe. To propagate the Hart's Tongue Fern, the ripe spores must be sowed onto the surface of a sterilized, damp, and free-draining seed compost, typically covered with a thin layer of fine milled sphagnum moss or kept in a closed system to maintain humidity. The container should be placed in indirect light at a temperature around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) until germination occurs. After the sporelings have developed enough to handle, they can be carefully potted on into individual pots to grow on.
