Asplenium sagittatum
Care, watering, light and tips for Asplenium sagittatum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Aspleniaceae
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Watering: every 4 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Asplenium sagittatum
Asplenium sagittatum, commonly known as Arrow Spleenwort, is an evergreen fern native to warm temperate regions. Its fronds are distinctive, with a lanceolate to sagittate shape that gives it its name, and a bright green color that adds an elegant texture to shady gardens or bright interiors. It is ideal for moist rockeries, old walls, or as a houseplant in hanging baskets, where its fronds can gracefully cascade.
Native range
Mediterranean region (Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East)
Care tips
This fern thrives in partial to full shade, avoiding direct sunlight which can scorch its fronds. Keep the substrate consistently moist, but not waterlogged, especially during warmer months; good drainage is crucial. Use an organic-rich, slightly acidic to neutral substrate, such as a fern mix or a combination of peat, leaf mold, and sand. Avoid excessive dry air and sudden temperature changes, which can stress the plant and cause frond yellowing.
How to save a dying Asplenium sagittatum
- Warning signs
- Wilted leaves, dry tips, pale or yellowish color. Slow or no growth, brown spots.
- First aid
- Move it to a shady, consistently humid spot. Water if substrate is dry, but avoid waterlogging. Mist its leaves.
- What kills it
- Direct sun exposure, dry air or substrate. Overwatering leading to root rot.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if its rhizomes are still firm and green. Remove badly damaged leaves and improve its environment immediately.