{"title":"Asplenium","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e is a large genus of \u003ca title=\"ferns\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/fern-plant-hardy-ferns-perennial-outdoor-garden\"\u003eferns\u003c\/a\u003e with roughly 700 species. It contains a popular group of garden ferns called the \u003cstrong\u003espleenworts\u003c\/strong\u003e, another group called the \u003cstrong\u003ebird's-nest ferns\u003c\/strong\u003e, and a third group called the \u003cstrong\u003ewalking ferns\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eSpleenworts\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe name spleenwort is based on the Doctrine of Signatures, an old philosophy that says that plants have medicinal or herbal uses, and that their appearance dictates how they should be used. In the case of spleenwort, the sori (spore bearing structures on the back of the leaves) resemble spleens and were used to treat spleen disorders. In fact, the genus name \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e is based on the Latin ‘splen’ for spleen.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eWalking Ferns\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe walking ferns are named such because they produce plantlets on the tips and edges of the fronds. When the frond is sufficiently weighted down by the growing youngsters, it bends to the ground (walks) and the baby ferns root into the ground one ‘step’ away from the parent.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eBird's-nest Ferns\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe bird’s-nest ferns were named for their tight rosette of leaves which is the size and shape of a bird’s nest.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis diverse genus of ferns ranges from small to large and are found in most regions around the globe. The small, rock-dwelling species can be one of the trickiest to grow in cultivation. Fortunately, there are a few tough and forgiving species that make great garden specimens.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAsplenium Species for the Garden\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium × ebenoides\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-ebenoides\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003eebenoides\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (Scott’s Spleenwort) This unusual, naturally occurring fern hybrid from Alabama (formerly ×\u003cem\u003eAsplenosorus\u003c\/em\u003e) is a cross between two native species, \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eplatyneuron\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003erhizophyllum\u003c\/em\u003e (formerly \u003cem\u003eCamptosorus\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003erhizophyllus\u003c\/em\u003e). The 6\" tall by 10\" wide, rock garden-size clumps prefer slightly moist, alkaline soils. When established, \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003eebenoides\u003c\/em\u003e will occasionally produce plantlets on the leaf tips. (Hardiness Zone 5-8)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eplatyneuron\u003c\/em\u003e (Ebony Spleenwort) This widespread US native is found from Maine west to Arizona, but for some reason is rarely seen in gardens. \u003cem\u003eAsplenium platyneuron\u003c\/em\u003e is evergreen, durable, drought tolerant, and easy to grow — perfect for a woodland rock garden. The shorter, sterile fronds highlight the rigidly erect, narrow fertile fronds that give the plant its anorexic but architecturally unique structure. About the only thing Ebony Spleenwort doesn't like is poorly drained soils. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium rhizophyllum\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-rhizophyllum\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003erhizophyllum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (Walking Fern) (syn: \u003cem\u003eCamptosorus\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003erhizophyllus\u003c\/em\u003e) This cute fern is found on alkaline outcrops from Minnesota south to Georgia. \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003erhizophyllum\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the most un-fernlike ferns we have grown. The bizarre, narrow, 5-7\" long by 1\/2\" wide, glossy, green leaves lie nearly flat on the ground. Each leaf tip produces another plant where it touches down. This is not for beginners since it requires a specialized habitat such as rotting logs or preferably moist, mossy limestone rocks, although it can withstand short periods of drought. (Hardiness Zone 4-8a)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium scolopendrium\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-scolopendrium\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (Hart's Tongue Fern) (syn: \u003cem\u003ePhyllitis\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e) This bizarre fern resembles a giant shiny green tongue sticking out of the ground. Imagine several of these in a small clump and you have a good picture of the Hart's Tongue Fern. This limestone loving fern appreciates a well-drained slightly moist soil. Many winter losses are due to poorly drained sites, not cold weather. \u003cem\u003eAsplenium scolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e is native to the USA, Asia, and Europe, although most of the named cultivars are from European descent. (Hardiness Zone 6b-9 possibly much colder)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Angustifolia' (Wavy Edge Hart's-tongue Fern) This cool selection of Hart's Tongue fern makes a 15\" wide by 10\" tall clump of narrow, glossy green leaves, each of which is heavily \"stitched along the edges.” (Hardiness Zone 5-9)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium scolopendrium 'Cristatum' \" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-scolopendrium-cristatum\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Cristatum'\u003c\/a\u003e (Crested Hart's-tongue Fern) Back in the Victorian era, collectors named several hundred crested varieties of Hart's Tongue Fern, but only a few remain. \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Cristatum' is a selection of the European form of this species that makes a tight rosette of shiny green tongue-like leaves, each ending in a petticoat crest. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium scolopendrium 'Furcata'\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-scolopendrium-furcata\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Furcata'\u003c\/a\u003e (Split Crest Hart's-tongue Fern) This alien-looking selection of Hart's Tongue Fern has fronds that split at the tip forming a Y-shape, which is then crested with an attractive petticoat. 10\" tall by 15\" wide clumps. (Hardiness Zone 5-9)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Undulata' (Undulate Hart's Tongue Fern) This wild selection of the European Hart's-tongue fern makes a 15\" wide by 10\" tall clump of evergreen, horizontally held tongues with bizarrely wavy foliage. (Hardiness Zone 5-9)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003escolopendrium\u003c\/em\u003e 'Uulong Island' (Uulong Island Hart's Tongue Fern) (coll. #A1K-143) Native from the US through Europe and Asia, this cultivar is the Asian form from Uulong Island, Korea. The 8\" long, plastic-feeling, strap-like leaves make a bold-textured, attention-getting rosette to 1' wide. Hart's-tongue fern is amazingly winter-hardy. (Hardiness Zone 5-9)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Asplenium trichomanes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/asplenium-trichomanes\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003etrichomanes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (Maidenhair Spleenwort) A widespread species in the United States, this cute fern makes a perfect little clump for the woodland rock garden. The 8\" long fronds unfurl to reveal dozens of tiny leaves attached to each side of a black rachis. It must have an evenly moist site but also perfect drainage. This nearly flat little gem, to 15\" wide, is great for rock gardens, and rock walls. (Hardiness Zone 2-8)\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Delights Nursery has a large collection of over 1000 ferns in our garden. We also have one of the largest and most esoteric selections of ferns for sale in the US. When you are ready to buy \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e for your shade garden, check out our online offerings of \u003cem\u003eAsplenium\u003c\/em\u003e ferns for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"asplenium-platyneuron-brunswick-giant","title":"Asplenium platyneuron Brunswick Giant","description":"\u003cp\u003eAsplenium platyneuron is a widespread US native, found from Maine west to Arizona, but is rarely seen in gardens. For a woodland rock garden, I cannot imagine a better choice than this durable, drought-tolerant, and easy-to-grow evergreen fern. The short, limp, sterile fronds have little value except to highlight the rigidly erect, narrow, fertile fronds that give the plant its anorexic but architectural structure. Our offering of Asplenium platyneuron 'Brunswick Giant' is a 2003 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction, spore propagated from our original collection from Brunswick Co., NC, where it stood 18\" tall in dry shade. About the only thing ebony spleenwort doesn't like is wet soils.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21026585925,"sku":"5226","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Asplenium-platyneuron-Brunswick-Giant.i-5226.s-68568.r-1_603f993b-b9c3-45d8-8636-c213ccac5978.jpg?v=1790969006"},{"product_id":"asplenium-tutwilerae","title":"Asplenium tutwilerae","description":"\u003cp\u003eAsplenium tutwilerae is an unusual, and very rare, naturally-occurring fern from Alabama (formerly xAsplenosorus) that originated as the result of a historical conjugal visit between two native species, Asplenium platyneuron and the walking fern, Asplenium rhizophyllum. The same hybrid, published in 1865 as Asplenium ebenoides is a sterile diploid, while this hybrid, discovered in Hale County, Alabama, by botanist Julia Tutwiler in 1873, is a fertile allotetraploid. The 6\" tall x 10\" wide, rock garden-sized, evergreen lithophyte (rock grower) prefers slightly moist alkaline soils. When established, Asplenium tutwilerae will occasionally produce plantlets on the leaf tips, thanks to the walking fern genes...gotta love those unusual breeding occurrences from Alabama.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21026675781,"sku":"5360","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Asplenium-tutwilerae.i-5360.s-64183.r-1_f5d4d83d-713f-42e4-994e-7c37c0a9fe7f.jpg?v=1790954879"},{"product_id":"asplenium-scolopendrium-hokkaido-gem","title":"Asplenium scolopendrium Hokkaido Gem","description":"\u003cp\u003eAsplenium scolopendrium 'Hokkaido Gem' is a 2015 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction, spore-grown Japanese form of the predominantly European Hart's tongue fern, thanks to a Tom Mitchell collection at 400' elevation in southwest Hokkaido, Japan. Asplenium scolopendrium 'Hokkaido Gem' benefits from a rich, slightly moist soil, where it forms an evergreen 1' tall x 18\" wide clump of 2\" wide, tongue-shaped, thick, glossy green leaves...a great textural contrast in the woodland garden.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21029831685,"sku":"10013","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Asplenium-scolopendrium-Hokkaido-Gem.i-10013.s-63810.r-1.jpg?v=1791903554"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Asplenium-scolopendrium-Cristatum-1900x350.jpg?v=1680036217","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/asplenium.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}