Native plants
Hound's tongue
Scientific name: Microsorum pustulatum
Maori name: kowaowao
Other names: Kowhaowhao, paraharaha
Pioneer
Fern
- native to the Wellington Region
Suits: damp, dry, shade, partial shade, sunny, shelter, exposure, coastal forest garden, coastal and dune garden, small garden or balcony
About Hound's tongue
A beautiful ground covering fern with glossy, bright, green fronds that vary in size and sometimes shape that should be in every garden due to its easy to care for and the good protection it offers ground living wildlife. Can also sometimes be epiphytic, growing on trees with long, creeping rhizomes. The rhizomes are thick and fleshy with a pressed reptilian scale looking surface.
Easily grown from rooted pieces of rhizome. Excellent in a hanging basket, large pot, or trained to grow over rocks, and logs. Microsorum pustulatum can be easily established on the branches of suitable trees and can make a fine specimen for the every garden. Once established it rarely requires much attention and has the added bonus of being remarkable drought tolerant, disease and pest free.
Hounds tounge is often found with a number of other fern species including Blechnum filiforme and the grand crown fern, Blechnum discolor.
Great youtube clip here on hounds tounge..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXjwDspWrt4#t=44
Provides for lizards
- Protection from predators
- Ground cover for retreat
- Clump forming for camouflage and insects
Read more about gardening for lizards.