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Wall-rue

©Pillaretxebarria

Wall-rue

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Scientific name: Asplenium ruta-muraria
With club-shaped leaflets on its fronds, wall-rue is easy to spot as it grows out of crevices in walls. Plant it in your garden rockery to provide cover for insects.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 20cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

January to December

About

Wall-rue is a small fern that can be found growing on limestone rocks and in crevices in old walls throughout town and country. It is often found close to other common species of rocks and walls, such as maidenhair spleenwort and hart's-tongue fern.
Wall-rue, like other ferns, reproduce using spores, which ripen from June to October.

What to look for

Wall-rue is an easily recognisable fern, with club-shaped leaflets that appear in groups of three on the frond. One of the commonest ferns on walls, it can be seen growing in tufts out of old mortar.

Where to find

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

Providing an informal rockery in your garden is great for all kinds of wildlife from toads and newts to spiders and beetles. In turn, these will attract birds and small mammals looking for food. Use larger pieces of stone and rock (acquired from a sustainable source) to create the rockery, leaving space for animals to crawl under. Plant native species like ferns, heathers or herbs to provide food and shelter for minibeasts.