Cockscomb Tongue Fern
Pyrrosia lingua 'Kei Kan'
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Pyrrosia lingua 'Kei Kan' is a fern for people who think they do not like ferns. Nothing here is lacy or feathery. The fronds are thick, leathery, and strap-shaped, and in this selection the tips fork and crest into ragged, comb-like divisions, the feature that earns the Japanese name Kei Kan, meaning cockscomb. The overall effect is closer to a piece of green leather sculpture than to the soft filigree most people picture when they hear the word fern.
The tongue ferns are East Asian plants, native across Japan, Korea, and China, where the species grows not in the ground but clinging to rocks and tree trunks as an epiphyte and lithophyte. That habit shows in the build: the fronds are thick and drought-resistant, and the undersides are covered in a fine, silky, rust-brown felt of star-shaped hairs, an ornamental detail in itself and a clever adaptation for holding moisture in an exposed perch. New fronds unfurl a lighter green before hardening to deep, glossy evergreen.
Behind the ornament lies a long medicinal history. In traditional Chinese medicine the dried leaves of Pyrrosia, this species among them, are the herb shi wei, literally stone leaf, gathered for centuries and classed as bitter, sweet, and slightly cold. Herbalists reached for shi wei above all for the urinary tract, and also for coughs and bleeding, and modern laboratories have since taken an interest in the flavonoids the leaves contain. 'Kei Kan' is grown as an ornamental rather than a remedy, but the plant carries that heritage in the leaf.
In the garden, treat 'Kei Kan' as a slow, sculptural evergreen for shade: a shaded rock garden or crevice, the foot of a north wall, a woodland trough, a terrarium, or a container of free-draining, bark-rich mix that echoes the epiphytic roots. Give part to full shade, steady moisture without waterlogging, and shelter from harsh sun and drying wind, and set the plant where the crested fronds and felted undersides can be studied at close range. Pair with mosses, small hostas, and other fine shade companions, and let the leathery texture play against softer foliage. Deer leave the tough fronds alone.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 7–10
- Sun
- Part Shade, Full Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 10–15 Inches · Spread 6–15 Inches
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Seasonality
- Evergreen
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.
- Traditional Chinese materia medica; use only under a qualified practitioner
- Not for use in pregnancy without professional guidance
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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