Ferns🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -20°C

Wall-rue

Name: Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria)
Brand: HSMN Planten
SKU: 6a8b54645e18c5d0b30524c3

Asplenium ruta-muraria

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Wall Rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) is a small, native and evergreen fern with leathery, grey-green, diamond-shaped leaf segments. The fronds grow in compact clusters from joints and crevices.

Specific care needed

Plant in a lime-rich, porous wall joint or rock crevice. Avoid using dense cement mortar and prevent damage from pressure washers or chemical agents. During prolonged drought, carefully water directly into the joint.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Pruning period

Do not prune. Only remove completely detached and dead material.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Sun, Half shade

Soil type: Sand, Loam

Moisture need: Dry, Moderately moist

pH: Neutral (6.5–7.5), Chalky (>7.5)

Nutrient richness: Nutrient-poor, Moderately nutrient-rich

Humus content: Humus-poor

Water drainage: Strongly draining, Well draining

Appearance & season

Mature height: 4-25cm

Bloom: Niet van toepassing

Autumn colour: Evergreen.

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: No

Do not consume.

Scent: No distinctive scent. The small leathery leaves barely emit any fragrance.

Creeping rhizome: No

Ecological value

Wall Rue provides micro-shelter for mites, springtails, small beetles, spiders, and snails. Specialized small caterpillars and leaf miners can use these ferns as a host plant.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsUseful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesLimited

🪰 HoverfliesUseful

🦋 ButterfliesUseful

🪲 Beetles & insectsUseful

🐦 BirdsUseful

🐿️ MammalsUseful

🐞 Other animalsUseful

Wall Rue primarily provides a small but permanent micro-habitat in wall crevices. Insects, spiders, and snails find shelter between the roots and leaves. While its direct importance for pollinators and mammals is minor, it enhances the ecological variety of stony places.

Distribution in the Netherlands