Plant names can be confusing, especially with ferns. This article clarifies the relationship between the popular Crispy Wave Fern and the Hart’s Tongue Fern.
Understanding the Crispy Wave Fern
The Crispy Wave Fern (Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’) is a cultivar of the bird’s nest fern. It has distinctive wavy, rippled fronds that are a bright, luminous green. These fronds grow upright in a rosette pattern, forming a central, nest-like depression, which gives its parent species the common name “bird’s nest fern.” The fronds are rigid and somewhat leathery, contributing to its unique crinkled appearance.
This fern originates from the humid, tropical understories of rainforests in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa. In its natural habitat, Asplenium nidus often grows as an epiphyte, attaching itself to trees or rocks. While it can reach significant sizes in the wild, its compact habit makes it a popular indoor specimen.
Understanding the Hart’s Tongue Fern
The Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) has a distinct appearance compared to the Crispy Wave. Its most notable feature is its long, strap-like, undivided fronds, unusual among ferns that typically have divided leaves. These fronds are a deep, glossy green with slightly wavy edges and a pointed tip, giving them a leathery texture. The common name “Hart’s Tongue” comes from the resemblance of its fronds to a deer’s tongue.
This evergreen fern is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and North America. It thrives in damp, shady woodland environments, often found growing in base-rich soils, on rocks, or within wall crevices. Unlike the epiphytic Crispy Wave, the Hart’s Tongue Fern is a terrestrial fern that forms rosettes of arching fronds, typically growing 12 to 18 inches tall.
Are They the Same Plant?
Despite both belonging to the Asplenium genus, the Crispy Wave Fern (Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’) and the Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) are not the same plant. They are distinct species or a species and a cultivar within the same family, Aspleniaceae. The genus Asplenium is large, encompassing around 700 species, often called spleenworts.
Confusion might arise because they share the same genus. However, their specific epithets, nidus and scolopendrium, clearly indicate they are different species. Asplenium nidus is commonly known as “bird’s nest fern,” with ‘Crispy Wave’ being a specific cultivated variety. Asplenium scolopendrium is a separate species.
Key Differences and Shared Care Principles
The primary visual distinction between the Crispy Wave Fern and the Hart’s Tongue Fern lies in their frond morphology. The Crispy Wave Fern has highly undulating, ruffled, and crinkled fronds, typically a lighter, vibrant green. In contrast, the Hart’s Tongue Fern features long, undivided, strap-like fronds that are a darker, glossy green with a smooth or only slightly wavy margin. The Crispy Wave’s fronds grow in an upright, nest-like rosette, while the Hart’s Tongue fronds often arch outward from a central rhizome.
Despite visual differences, both ferns share common care principles. They prefer bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight which can scorch their fronds. High humidity is beneficial for both, mimicking their natural environments, and can be maintained through misting or humidifiers. Both plants require consistently moist, well-draining soil to prevent root rot, and do not tolerate being waterlogged. They thrive in consistent temperatures and are sensitive to sudden fluctuations.