Asparagus Fern Asparagus fern is a common name given to some plants in the genus Asparagus. Some of the varieties of those plants include ...
Asparagus Fern
Asparagus fern is a common name given to some plants in the genus Asparagus. Some of the
varieties of those plants include A. aethiopicus, A. densiflorus, A. plumosus, A.
setaceus, A.virgatus
In fact, Asparagus
fern is biologically, not a fern. These plants set seeds and have cladodes.
They also have dual growing characteristics. They grow aggressively in USDA
Zones 9 to 11 and restrictedly in pots.
These plants
are native to southern African lands. They are toxic to humans and animals.
Particularly, children must not be allowed to gain access near these plants.
Characteristics
The US Traders largely sold Asparagus
fern plants commercially in the latter part of the nineteenth century. A.
retrofractus, A. setaceus and A. densiflorus are the most commonly sold
Asparagus fern varieties. Some other varieties like A. africanus and A.
racemosus can be found growing vigorously in the wild.
Normally, these plants grow like
shrubs in upward fashions with layer upon layer of delicate stems. The flowers
are white and the berries are usually orange or red in color that turns into
blackish-purple upon maturing. You can find well-developed seeds inside these
matured berries that can be collected and stored for future use.
These are biologically dioecious
plants. Both female and male plants
bloom respectively. But, only the female plants fruit. Unless fruits develop,
you cannot differentiate female and male plants visually while purchasing.
These plants grow on an average of 3
feet in height and 3 feet breadth. They can live up to 10 years or more
depending on the nature of caring.
Propagation
If you live in USDA Zones 9 or higher, you can grow Asparagus fern as a
perennial plant in your outdoor spaces. If you live in other zones, you can
grow them completely indoors or as annual plants in your outdoor spaces.
Although they can tolerate a little amount of sunlight, grow them in
dappled shades. Avoid exposing them to direct, bright sunlight, as it can
damage the plant in the initial stages.
These plants thrive well in mild warm temperatures about 70 degrees
Fahrenheit. However, they cannot tolerate temperatures below 55 degrees
Fahrenheit for prolonged periods.
If you prefer to grow them indoors, use good quality, loose and
well-draining potting soil mix. If you plan to grow them outdoors, use slightly
acidic, rich, well-draining soils. You can expect these plants to grow in less-than-ideal
soils also.
Seeds
The Asparagus
fern seeds are easily available online for purchase. You can also use your own
seeds for propagation. This method may be challenging, as each berry has only
about 1- 3 seeds and germination is not 100 % guaranteed.
Weaken the
hard outer shells by scrapping them and soaking them in water overnight. In Zones 9
– 11, plant them outdoors directly. In other zones, start by planting them in
seed starter trays.
Moist the
soil by pouring water. Place the seeds on the surface. Then, press the seeds
down gently about 1/4 ‘’ deep and cover the soil barely. Be aware, they need
light to germinate!
Apply water
regularly and maintain the soil moist. Do not let the soil dry. In this way,
you can expect germination in about 4 – 8 weeks.
Division
This is the fast,
easy and successful method of propagation for Asparagus fern plants. Start
division in spring.
Dig out the entire healthy Asparagus fern plant.
Remove the infected parts in the roots and divide them into sections with growing
shoots.
Plant the
sections into containers or in locations that have shades. Maintain the soil
moist but not soggy by watering appropriately.
Caring
Asparagus Fern plants
Water the
plants every day and maintain soil moisture. Asparagus Fern prefers to grow in
warm, humid conditions.
Fertilize
the plants with all-purpose fertilizer as required. During the growing periods,
feed them more and gradually lessen the feeding as winter approaches.
Spring
is the ideal season for pruning. Prune the decayed/decolored parts from the base.
Remove the dead woods, spent blooms, and other debris regularly. This increases
the flow of air and prevents plant diseases.
Other Tips
Container
Gardens:
The Asparagus
Fern plants grow vigorously. Hence, their roots may pinch out through thin
plastic plant pots. To avoid this scenario, grow them in large study planting
pots that have good drainage outlets.
You can also
start growing them in small pots and transplant them into large containers as
they grow. In this method, the plants may have to bear transplant stress that
can be risky.
Berries:
When your
plants have berries, wait until they decay. Then, pluck them off and remove the
outer pulp. Store the seeds in cool, dry, and dark locations.
Make sure to
keep the seeds and berries out of pets and children.
Pests and Diseases
The growing
environment of Asparagus Fern plants like wet conditions, indirect lighting
Etc., attracts various pests and diseases.
Asparagus
beetles, mealy bugs, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies Etc., often infect Asparagus
Fern. Slugs and snails also may trouble this plant due to wet conditions.
These pests
chew foliage or suck out the sap, causing infected parts to shrivel and die
ultimately.
Diatomaceous
Earth can kill snails and slugs effectively. You can also use insecticidal
soaps or neem oils to treat most of the other pests.
Asparagus
Rust, cercospora blight, phytophthora crown, fusarium wilt, and spear rot are some of the diseases
that can infect these plants. Treat them with chemicals as organic means are
not effective. If the problems persist, just remove and destroy the infected
plants immediately.
Cultivars
A.
Densiflorus – Myeri (foxtail fern)
You can find
various variations of this cultivar while shopping such as Myersii, Myers, Etc.
These plants grow 2 feet in height and 3 feet wide
The conical
shaped stems resemble pine needles. They are tightly packed with flattened stem
portions called cladodes. The blooming season of these plants is during the
summer. You can expect the berries to form in the fall following the blooms in
summer.
Asparagus
Densiflorus – Sprengeri (Emerald Fern)
These plants
have mounding character. They grow around 2 feet in height and 3 feet wide. The
stems resemble small pine needles and are loosely packed with leaves. They
flower in summer and fruit in fall followingly.
Asparagus
Setaceus
A. setaceus
is also called as Protasparagus setaceus or A. plumosus. In appearance, these
plants typically resemble fern.
The
attractive twisting climbing stems are adorned with minute soft needles. These
stems grow longer with age. Pruning helps them to grow denser.
Toxicity
The Asparagus
Fern plants are toxic to both pets and human (especially children)
In human,
the sap contact may result in skin irritation and dermatitis. The mechanical
injuries arising due to ‘prickles may cause uncomfortableness.
In pets, due
to dermal exposure, it causes Allergic dermatitis. If the pets swallow berries,
they may most likely be affected by gastric problems like vomiting, abdominal
pain, Etc.
Uses
The Asparagus Fern plants are used primarily as filler plants in summer
mixed flower gardens. You can grow them in all sorts of planters including
hanging baskets and wall boxes.
They can also be simply trailed across shelves or accent tables to
decorate boring spaces. You can grow them with combination plants like tuberous
begonias.
In fact, the
Asparagus species are known for their biological properties. For instance, they
have one of the best antibacterial, antioxidant, antihepatotoxic, and immunostimulant
properties compare to most herbs.
A. laricinu Burch
s, A.densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop, A. africanus Lam., A. officinalis L. and A.
racemosus have scientifically proven their anticancer properties.
Asparagus Fern
plants are also used to cure dysentery, diarrhea, urination problems, skin
diseases, pulmonary infections, and andrology and gynecology problems.
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