About
Asplenium ruta-muraria is a compact, evergreen perennial fern that typically reaches heights of around 15 cm. This species commonly inhabits rocky nooks and the surfaces of ancient masonry. Its fine, green fronds rise in a loose rosette from the base, displaying leaflets that are rounded and slightly lobed, giving them a fan-like appearance similar to that of rue (Ruta graveolens), which inspired its nomenclature. The edges of the leaflets may exhibit gentle scalloping or notching, and the undersides are often adorned with clusters of spores arranged in elongated, curved patterns.
About the genus
Asplenium is a group of evergreen ferns characterized by short, typically upright rhizomes that support a rosette of somewhat leathery fronds. These fronds can vary from simple to pinnate, and may extend to three times pinnate.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam
- Soil pH
- Alkaline
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Ferns, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- See hardy ferns cultivation for more information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division, or propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe at 15°C
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free