Common Asparagus Fern
Asparagus setaceus
- Native to:
- Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man (en.wikipedia.org) ). Location credit to the Chanticleer Garden.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Genus:
- Asparagus
- Species:
- Asparagus setaceus
- USDA Symbol:
- ASSE12
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to forest understories, prefers organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 21–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at warm temperatures (20-25°C). Fresh seed germinates more reliably than older seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI