Asparagus Fern, Springer's Asparagus
Asparagus densiflours v. springeri

Although this plant does belong to the asparagus family, it does not look like what one would think an asparagus should look like. It does not really look very much like a fern either. It is a beautiful houseplant though, with bright green needle-like foliage. When not watered enough (or when over watered) these needles can dry out and cause quite a mess when they begin falling. The plant makes an excellent hanging basket specimen and must be brought indoors in climate zones where freezing temperatures are likely during the winter.

This Asparagus Fern was photographed in the Highlands, Louisville, Kentucky on December 2, 1998.

 



Foxtail Fern, Meyer's Asparagus
Asparagus meyeri

This specimen (right) looks somewhat like a cluster of foxtails but it does not look very much like a fern either. It has a more upright growth which is not suited to hanging baskets as is the case with the Asparagus Fern.

This specimen of Foxtail Fern was photographed in the San José, Costa Rica in June 1999.



Ming Fern
Asparagus myriocladus

The Ming fern is a beautiful plant with bright green puffy clusters of soft green needles. One of the favorite Asparagus ferns for cutting and growing as a houseplant. A wonderful acccent plant. Specimen shown here was illustrated in July 2006.



Sickle Leaf Asparagus Vine
Asparagus falcatus

A large climbing plant having dark green, linear leaves and masses of fragrant white flowers at intervals. The flowers are followed by brown berries. A great plant for training indoors, or makes a great cover for a pergola, a fence or a wall, as its fronds can climb as long as 10 feet or more. Specimen shown here was illustrated in July 2006.

 

 

Propagation is easy from seed. The best time to plant seeds is in February. At normal room temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees F. the seeds will usually germinate in about 30 days. When the young seedlings are about 3 inches high, transplant them into individual pots of fertile potting soil. When the plants are about 5 inches tall and the roots have grown sufficiently, transplant to a larger pot. Mature plants will bear racemes of small pinkish, flowers in early summer. By Christmas they will produce small coral-red berries, the source of more seeds.

 

© 1998 Michael King

 

 

 

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