Pyrrosia lingua aka Felt Fern

Pyrrosia lingua is generally considered an easy, low-maintenance fern. NC State Extension describes it as slow-growing with low maintenance requirements, and notes resistance to heavy shade, drought, and deer browsing. It tolerates a wide range of soils and pH levels. Its biggest care needs are good drainage and protection from intense direct sun.

Mature plants reach roughly 8 to 12 inches tall, with upright fronds extending up to 12-18 inches, and spread one to three feet wide via long, shallow creeping rhizomes. Growth is slow, so plants typically take several years to fill their allotted space.

Pyrrosia lingua is native to East and Southeast Asia, occurring naturally through China, Indo-China, South Korea, the Nansei-shoto islands, Taiwan, and Japan. In the wild it grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks or as a lithophyte on rocks in tropical and subtropical forests.

Numerous ornamental cultivars have been selected, including 'Eboshi', 'Ogon Nishiki', 'Futaba Shishi', 'Hiryu', and 'Alabama Gold', along with crested forms in the Crested Group. Cultivars vary in size, frond ruffling, cresting, and variegation.

Pyrrosia lingua is reliably hardy in USDA zones 6a through 10b according to NC State Extension, with the Hardy Fern Foundation suggesting zones 8 to 10 as the safest range. It performs best in deep to partial shade with morning sun or bright filtered light, in well-drained loose soil, and is excellent on steep slopes, in rock walls, as ground cover, in containers, hanging baskets, and grown directly on tree trunks to echo its native epiphytic habit.

The easiest way to propagate Pyrrosia lingua is by division of the creeping rhizome, which can be cut into sections and replanted. The fern also produces bright yellow spores on the underside of fertile fronds late in the season, but spore propagation is slower and more demanding than division.

No serious pest or disease problems are noted in the available references. NC State Extension specifically lists Pyrrosia lingua as resistant to heavy shade and deer damage, and as drought-tolerant once established.

NC State Extension describes the leaves of Pyrrosia lingua as edible, though it is not commonly grown as a food plant. Its primary leaf uses are ornamental and medicinal rather than culinary.

Pyrrosia lingua has a long history of medicinal use in East Asia. Its dried leaves are the source of the traditional Chinese herb Shi Wei (Folium Pyrrosiae), described as sweet, bitter, and slightly cold, entering the lung and bladder meridians. It is traditionally used to induce diuresis for painful or heat-related urinary difficulty, to clear lung-heat and relieve coughs with phlegm, and to cool the blood to stop bleeding such as nosebleeds, blood in urine, and abnormal menstrual bleeding, typically decocted at 6 to 12 grams. Korean folk medicine uses it for pain, vaginal bleeding, and urolithiasis. Peer-reviewed studies have characterized antimicrobial caffeoylquinic acids, an essential oil with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, effects on bone resorption, and laboratory anti-SARS-CoV activity.

Beyond ornament, the dried leaf is the commercial source of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Shi Wei (Folium Pyrrosiae).

Felt Fern should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Felt Fern loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

To ensure optimal growth, the Felt Fern prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

The Felt Fern is characterized by its slow growth and doesn't need fertilization in addition to its potting soil. By renewing the soil in its pot once a year, it should have enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not from any fertilizers.

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.