Dragontail Fern
Asplenium × ebenoides
4-inch pot
 
An unusual native hybrid fern with narrow, dark green fronds that combine characteristics of its parent species, Walking Fern and Ebony Spleenwort. The evergreen fronds have deeply lobed margins and dark, wiry stems, forming a compact tuft with a distinctive architectural appearance. In favorable conditions, the elongated frond tips may touch the soil and root to form new plants.
 
Naturally occurring where its two parent ferns grow together, Scott’s Spleenwort is rare in the wild and makes a fascinating addition to woodland and fern collections. It prefers shaded, rocky sites with excellent drainage and is particularly well suited to crevices, stone walls, and rock gardens with humus-rich soil.
 
Evergreen fern
Zones 4–8
Part shade to full shade
Grows 6–12 in. tall x 6–12 in. wide
Moderate water needs; prefers moist but well-drained, rocky soil
Deer-resistant, compact and distinctive
Provides year-round foliage interest