This evergreen tropical terrestrial fern has a woody rhizome that forms a clump. It has leathery glossy dark green pointed heart-shaped sterile fronds with blackish stems and the fertile arrowhead-shaped fronds stand erect and produced spores.

Hardiness zones 9 to 12

Hemionitis artifolia is naturally found in the tropical Asia from India to Thailand, Philippines, Burma and Malaysia growing in moist shaded positions, commonly along water courses on the coast and in the mountains from sea level to an altitude of 900 m (2,952 ft). 

It prefers a semi-shaded to shaded wind protected humid position and growth in very well-drained organic rich moist sandy to light clay loam with a pH range of 5.6 to 7.5 and is frost and drought tender.

Heart Fern is grown for its attractive glossy foliage and its clumping habit. It is planted in moist shaded borders or rockeries or used around a water feature as a specimen. It is also grown in rock crevices in retaining walls or used in hanging baskets, terrariums and is commonly grown as a potted house plant. 

It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions and establishes in 2-3 years and is moderately long-lived. In cold regions it is grown as a glasshouse or conservatory specimen requiring a bright humid position. ID 2570

Hemionitis (hem-ee-oh-NYE-tiss)  artifolia (air-ih-FOH-lee-uh)

Hemionitidaceae (hem-ee-oh-NYE-tid-AY-see-ee)