Asparagus Fern, Sprenger Asparagus 'Sprengeri'

On Apr 9, 2017, Rests from Bryan, TX wrote:

Love this plant. The info with it when I bought it at Lowe's said that it wouldn't make it through below 30 degrees. We had a freeze of 8 degrees. It came through that wit flying colors! Adds a nice texture to the bed. Highly recommend this fern. Hardly takes any special care.

On Mar 18, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

A great houseplant, but a serious garden thug where it's hardy. Also a FLEPPC Category l invasive species. Birds spread it by eating the fruits.

I just did some gardening work in West Palm Beach, FL, and found this plant intertwined with every shrub, not only in one garden, but throughout the neighborhood. Eradicating it is a slow process that takes several years of persistent effort. It can be controlled with herbicides: http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bridalcreeper/docs/Asparagus_We...

This species has been declared a noxious weed in parts of Australia, and is also a problem plant in New Zealand and Hawaii.

The consensus is the ... read morebotanical name is A. aethiopicus.

On Dec 16, 2013, thewolffeman from Orange, CA wrote:

I give this plant a huge negative. This plant is an extremely invasive, noxious weed. The combination of it being extremely invasive and having small sharp thorns make it a huge pain (literally) to remove. If you live in a northern part of the US that has cold freezing winters and you want to plant it in the ground then I guess you could because freezing temperatures kill it, but my advice would be to keep it in a pot just in case because you do not want it spreading. In warmer places like Southern California and Florida, do not plant this under ANY condition.

On Nov 9, 2012, MsMaati from Newburgh, IN (Zone 6a) wrote:

It grows in southern Indiana in summer only, must be taken in for winter.

On Aug 25, 2012, ssherm_larch from CARDIFF BY THE SEA, CA wrote:

Please heed the negative comments on this one. As nice as this plant may look, it has serious implications in all gardens and native spaces. Even planted as a hanging basket, or in a pot, this plants seeds are spread. As a landscape architect in San Diego, I visit many homes. I have found it sprouting in the midst of shrubs, hedges and throughout gardens where it was never planted. More than half the 400 homes I visited last year have an invasion. I believe birds eat the seeds, spreading the plants to the center of shrubs where birds perch. While I have not found it resistant to Round-Up, if you don't get all the root nodes, it will come back. Also, it is nearly impossible to spray this plant when it is entwined in your hedge.

This plant should be made illegal to sell... read more or distribute in all Southern States.

On Jun 28, 2010, Daisees from Sunderland,
United Kingdom wrote:

I’ve it for 50 years and during that time it has moved house 7 times, often ending up in cramped, poorly lit places. I’ve often left it weeks without watering (what can I say – I’m a bad gardener!). In my present abode, it lives in a conservatory that gets sun from sun-up to about 3pm and often the place is freezing cold in winter and unbearably hot in the summer. It’s often had fronds that were 6 foot long!

I’ve had to repot it several times when I would pull off all the ‘potatoes’ and dead root and put it back in the same pot with fresh compost. Once it got white fly and I had to cut off the mantle which filled 3 black plastic bin bags!

The last repotting the root ball was so dense, I took a saw to it and even cut off the top as it was all spikes where fr... read moreonds had been cut off. For almost a year I really thought I’d finally killed it but last spring it started to shoot again. It flowers about 2 and sometimes 3 times a year in abundance but has never produced berries.

I took this vid of it in flower the other day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h8P3RPjcsc (copy and paste the link in your address bar to view it)

As you gather from others' posts, it can be a pernicious weed if planted in the garden!

Daisees.

On May 16, 2010, monarch_lady from Pikeville, KY wrote:

I just recently bought the aspargus fern and was under the impression it was a herb. I am very glad I did some research on this plant. Thanks for all the comments about how to deal with this plant. I have two house cats and did not know of the poison hazard, so the information I have gleaned from all of these articles has been invaluable. I am planning to have it as a house plant, but now I will make it a hanging plant to keep it away from my pets.
One note about troublesome plants like this fern that will spread when outdoors and turned loose to go its on way, and that is a mint plant. I planted the mint from seeds and even transported it from GA to KY in the dirt with my other plants. You will never get rid of this plant unless you lose everything in your garden and poi... read moreson the whole area. The roots run the entire area of your garden and right in with your other plants. I pull them up constantly all spring and summer long, but never get rid of them. Just a WARNING ,never plant mint in your yard or prepare for it to take over everything.

On Apr 5, 2010, KC3Lady from Mission, KS (Zone 6a) wrote:

I love my asparagus fern! This year I only have one in a hanging basket indoors, but I have grown them outside. The one I have indoors I purchased on sale at the nursery because it had out grown it's pot. I literally had to cut the pot off of the roots, which were hard as concrete. Once transplanted into a hanging basket, the shoots nearly reach the floor. It has a delicate, airy appearance, but make no mistake, if you reach your hand into it you will have scratches.

On Jun 30, 2009, ladyla5 from Irvine, CA wrote:

Here in Southern California, I have been at war with Asparagus sprengerii for decades in my garden and in other gardens, with a hanging basket in the patio that spread all over the yard and a thicket in the back yard that spread to the front yard via the birds and berries. The brittle stems, thorns and hard-to-find underground tubers make it practically impossible to completely eradicate. I would recommend it only as an indoor plant here.

On May 17, 2008, sleepybenja from North Port, FL wrote:

I use these to fill odd spots. It looks great everywhere, easy to take care of and it isn't that difficult to get rid off. Just pull as much as you can out and pour some kill all on the rest, it will die.
Asparagus fern makes very nice flower arrangements with roses,carnations, tulips etc

On Dec 11, 2007, stephanotis from Queen Creek, AZ (Zone 8b) wrote:

This has been a great plant here in the hot desert, though so far I have only had it in lots of pots mostly in shade. My neighbors have it in the ground, and it definitely gets huge, though it freezes to the ground here in 8B. The only bad part of this plant has nothing to do with the plant itself, but it harbors lots and lots of bunnies and their babies. I had a small pot of it on the ground, and one morning I watered it and had a bunny explode out of it and hop away. The varmint had chewed 95% of the fern off at the base and then made a little nest in there. I put the pot on a table, and it has started to grow back quite nicely. Out of all the 6 or 7 pots of the stuff growing, I have never had any of it bloom, though the neighbor's has. I do plan to plant a bunch in the ground later on, ... read moreso I will post more on that later.

On May 25, 2007, Sashprd58 from Manchester, CT wrote:

I lived in GA & FL for many years and had this plant both inside and outside where I could keep it trimmed to shape, but I have lived most of my life in the northeast where this is considered to be a houseplant only. Well, let me tell you, that is a myth as I live in zone 6 and always put my houseplants out for the summer. Two years ago my Asparagus Fern dropped some of its berries and, unbeknownst to me, propagated. Last year (2006) I was amazed to find Asparagus Fern growing in my planting bed and have about 5 plants from that seed dropping. I believe the fact that I always mulch my beds and that it is south facing may have contributed to it surviving!

On Nov 26, 2006, quasymoto from Bloomfield, IA (Zone 5b) wrote:

I do happen t love this plant as we bought a nice big one at an Amish auction and it has withstood cold, heat, dry conditions, and a few other brief momnents of neglect.

One comment I would add is that it tends to turn yellow and drop it's little pine needle looking leafs ALL OVER! But after further investigation it may be due to the plant getting too hot indoors. Go figure.

On Jun 16, 2006, Pashta from Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b) wrote:

These things are amazing! I had some small ones that I slowly repotted into larger and larger plants. The last repotting gave my biggest fern such a growth spurt, that the fronds have grown over 3 feet long! I have to cut them back to keep my cats away from them...they are poisonous to pets. My largest one has also sent out buds, which is a first for me. I have never seen one flower before, and I am fvery excited about it. I water abhout once a week, and once a month they get a good soaking. Bright ambient light.

On Jun 4, 2006, Tiki_Garden from Cibolo, TX wrote:

I love this plant. I am, however, glad I don't live in an area where it can become invasive. I use it as a very hardy ground cover and in pots. It adds a lovely touch to any garden.

On Feb 15, 2006, c_etude from Winter Haven, FL wrote:

This asparagus fern is tough as nails. I HAD THE SAME PLANT SINCE 1968. Let me repeat--1968. I was just a kid I remember this plant.

Actually I was shocked to hear it's invasive. I keep it in a pot, and it's been in there ever since. How tall is it? Ohh, I'd say about 1 foot, and it remains in the 12" pot. So the plant is no more than 12" across. Forever. Unchanged, and certainly not invasive. I never water it, or do anything. Frankly I'm surprised it's still alive and green with no care whatsoever. It stays the same in the longest droughts, freezing cold, and even hurricanes. Untouched.

As long as you keep it in a container it stays the same. unchanged. year after year after year after year...and decades later. It will not grow, but it will not die eit... read moreher.

A plant, unchanged, since 1968, is indeed nobel. If you want an impressive looking container plant without having to water or care for it, this is it.

On Dec 11, 2005, CastIronPlant22 from Lompoc, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

this plant is great! Its very easy to grow and can last many many years. Watch out for the little spines it has hidding under all that foliage. Its cute when it has the red/white berry's. In colder winter areas it doesnt look so good, but comes right back in spring. Doesnt need water after its established. It can make it on the rain alone! Very good for outdoors.

On Oct 22, 2005, Breezymeadow from Culpeper, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is a lovely container plant - especially nice in hanging baskets. Cut sprigs also make a nice airy filler for flower arrangements.

Likes its soil kept moist in order to prevent needle drop & under optimal conditions will sometimes produce tiny white flowers followed by tiny green berries ultimately ripening to red.

The only drawback I found to growing it was that it outgrew its containers rather quickly, requiring frequent repotting. Using an old large serrated kitchen knife, one could easily divide up one large specimen into 4 or more new plants.

On Aug 30, 2005, KiMFDiM from Alden, NY (Zone 5b) wrote:

Even though I understand that this plant causes many problems in subtropical areas, this plant is very good for the Northeastern states. I keep mine on the back patio during the summer (full sun) amongst my other tropicals to create the feel of being in the subtropics. Since I do not live in the subtropics and my husband wishes to stay up north, I have to recreate that feel. I bring it in during the winter months and keep it in a south facing window until it's time bring it outside again. There is no fear of spreading seeds taking root here, I am a zone 5...the winter would kill it.

This plant is excellent up north. If you live up north, don't let the negative comments prevent you from growing this. Very easy to take care of here, just keep it out of frost and snow!

On Apr 25, 2005, GreenLife from (Zone 10b) wrote:

I am especially fond of this fern because it grows great as a groundcover and gives sections of my yard an informal, forest-like feel. I appreciate the birds for their help in spreading seeds because I often find new asparagus ferns growing in the most unusual places. Since they are dioecious, only a few grow berries which are often hidden by the more abundant fruitless ferns. I saw a mockingbird eating a red berry so this fern is quite helpful to birds in the winter.

On Jul 28, 2004, LynneSun from Cape Town,
wrote:

It's amazing how differently plants behave in different climates. In Cape Town, South Africa, this fern is delightful - except for the thorns - but its close relative is a complete menace. I've had this one in pots & hanging baskets for years & it's beautiful,especially when it has flowers & berries.

BUT, there's another asparagus fern--not sure of its botanical name--that is a HORROR! It's got longer fronds than this one, is darker green in colour, has worse thorns & grows like a triffid, into & over everything in sight. My mother's got it strangling everything in her front & back gardens. Should be classed as an alien invader!

On Jun 29, 2004, punaheledp from Kailua, HI (Zone 11) wrote:

Mine grew wild in a pot outside, from whence it came I don't know. Even though I give it no care, except water when I water the rest of the garden, it does just fine. (I'm actually somewhere between positive and neutral, but they have no button for that.)

It's a nice contrast to other plants. Have yet to have problem with it spreading (Maybe because it planted itself in a small pot and hasn't gotten overly large, or flowered and seeded). Am glad for the warnings of others on this site, so I can know to do something early if it ever shows signs of becoming invasive. Maybe I'll try it in a hanging planter.

On Jun 29, 2004, orca423 from Valley Village, CA wrote:

I have had my Asparagus Fern for a couple years now. I love it. I have it in a hanging planter & have had no problems. There have been no mess. The flowers were a great surprise this year. The berries are just now starting to pop up. A dove laid eggs in the plant & it held up great. I live in sunny southern California & have sun beating down on our plants all day long. This plant almost died a while back, but I brought it back to life & it is doing great now, plus it provides nice shade.

On Jun 2, 2004, SandPiper from Foley, AL (Zone 9a) wrote:

Ohhhh, such negative feelings about this plant! I could not do without my dear asparagus ferns. I have had no problems with them being invasive, perhaps because they are kept contained in hanging baskets along the front porch. I love the tiny flowers that are blooming on mine this time of the year and find them much less messy and troublesome to take care of than other types of ferns. Just had to take up for one of nature's little beauties! Thanks! SandPiper...

On May 4, 2004, mmm from Milwaukee, WI wrote:

I have one growing just fine right now on top of my refrigerator with an eastern exposure. My new cat has now found he likes nibbling on the stems. Is this the variety of asparagus fern that is toxic to cats or are all of them? And, just how toxic is it? He does not seem to be bothered so far. Plant has no flowers or berries yet either. Love the plant, as it is so easy to grow, but hate to think that I am poisioning my cat! Thanks-mmm

On Sep 20, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote:

This plant can be useful as a ground cover. I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, zone 9b, for many years. I had a circular driveway with a shady half moon planting bed between this driveway and the street--no streetside sidewalk. I found that people--especially teenage visitors to our house--liked to park under the shade of my trees, get out of their cars and tromp through my half moon-shaped planting bed, so I was looking for some rather indestructible plants for this area.

Then I found out a nearby office building was being renovated on the outside, and I managed to get a large amount of these plants for free. My teenage son and I just cut long, two foot wide runners of the plant a few inches deep. It was easy with thick gloves, and the roots are in mats. We rolled up the... read more "runners" and took them home. Then rolled them back out, butting them together, until they covered the entire half moon shaped bed, which was about 30 feet long, and at its widest, 15 feet or so deep.

The asparagus fern made a nice impenetrable groundcover under the shade of the two huge old trees near the road. I found three foot-tall, dark green Sansevieria could compete quite nicely, making a nice contrast to the airy looking asparagus fern. The two together made a formidable barrier no barefooted teenager would dare step on!

The planting bed was contained by concrete all the way around it, so there was nothing to invade. Over the years, the fern grew to about three feet high, with arching branches and pretty, small white flowers. My only problem with this bed was the difficulty retrieving, without getting scratches, the inevitable trash thrown by kids as they walked home from the very nearby middle and high schools.

There are no bad plants--just plants in bad places--except maybe poison ivy and oak--but I understand they feed birds, so maybe there is a place for them too--just far away from me!

On Sep 17, 2003, IslandJim from Keizer, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:

This is terribly invasive in Florida. For once I agree with the local plant cops who think it ought to be outlawed. Unfortunately, one of the unknown geniuses who owned my place before I bought it, planted it in the back yard. I have not found it immune to Roundup, however. It just takes a couple of applications a week apart and a little patience.

On Sep 17, 2003, broozersnooze from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

My goodness. A lot of negative experiences for some of you. Should I worry about the attack of the killer plant? (joking) Maybe I should feel fortunate that mine hasn't reproduced on its own other than me dividing the root ball every spring. Oh well, Mother Nature is odd like that. Makes it all the more interesting.

My only negative experience is the cats using it for a napping spot. Wooden kebab skewers sticking up out of the soil solved that.

I've had one for many years now. It remains outdoors unprotected year round in a very large planter sitting on upright concrete blocks to keep the fronds off the ground.
My experience with this plant is strictly positive in that I have thoroughly enjoyed its addition to my container garden.

On Sep 16, 2003, DeniseAnne from La Mesa, CA wrote:

Here in San Diego the asparagus fern is everywhere. It gets inside, under, etc. everything. I am attempting to eradicate it. Perhaps it could be used as a ground cover on a back hill if you can keep it contained there. It can rip up your hands when you attempt to remove it. Be sure to get all the roots and bulbs.

On Aug 5, 2003, astanton from Anaheim, CA (Zone 10b) wrote:

This plant is probably the most invasive weedy plant I could possibly think of. It can even grow on tree trunks without soil. The spreading is underground by tiny watery bulbs that seem to be connected by an underground rhizome of some kind that is thread-like in thinness.

Upon looking under the thick carpet of my baby tears, I found at least one bulb at every inch! They exclusively like to grow in the middle of other plants--particularly bushes. In my neighborhood in Southern California, I noticed how gardeners just trim them into the shapes of the bushes these ferns overtook and killed! Such bushes might include hardy ones like Juniper, Bird of Paradise, or Roses.

I wish California would prohibit their sale!

On May 21, 2003, Lavanda from Mcallen, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I have grown these from seed as houseplants. They are very easy to grow that way and make nice houseplants.

On Apr 30, 2003, 623MERLIN wrote:

I love the Asparagus Fern. I have had one for over 30 years in a free standing wicker plant stand and it is just beautiful. It does very well here in Arizona and loves the heat.

On Sep 2, 2001, talinum from Kearney, NE (Zone 5a) wrote:

Tender perennial used an an annual. Trailing bright glossy foliage. An excellent house plant, also good for hanging baskets. It eventually bears fragrant, whitish-pink flowers. Best performance in medium to bright light. 2' tall to 2'3' wide.