Asparagus ferns are closely related to edible asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). While asparagus ferns don’t produce anything we can harvest and eat, they are versatile, reliable, easy to grow and useful in a variety of gardening situations. The most commonly grown asparagus fern is Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri.
How do you identify an asparagus fern?
Asparagus fern produces long, upright or trailing, branching stems sparsely covered with sharp, stiff spines in the axils. The rounded stems, up to 6 feet long, are green to brown in color and have a shallow indentation along their length.
Why is it called an asparagus fern?
Asparagus ferns are not ferns at all, they belong to the asparagus family. The common names are derived from their appearance, the plumes of feathery foliage resemble delicate, lacy ferns.
Does asparagus turn into a fern?
Asparagus spears are harvested for 6 to 8 weeks in the spring. The harvest is over when we stop cutting the spears and allow them to grow into ferns. It is important to let the ferns grow instead of harvesting spears all summer long.
What is another name for asparagus fern?
Asparagus setaceus, commonly known as common asparagus fern, asparagus grass, lace fern, climbing asparagus, or ferny asparagus, is a climbing plant in the genus Asparagus. Despite its common name, the plant is not a true fern, but has leaves that resemble one. Protasparagus plumosus (Baker) Oberm.
Are there different types of asparagus ferns?
AsparagusLower classifications
Do all asparagus ferns have thorns?
Plant asparagus ferns in an all-purpose potting mix. Caution: Despite their soft, fluffy appearance, asparagus ferns actually have small thorns, so wear gloves when handling them.
Should asparagus fern be trimmed?
All asparagus fern types need hard pruning every three years to rejuvenate their growth. It is best done in spring before new growth emerges. Cut back the entire plant to within 2 to 3 inches of the soil using sharp, clean pruning shears and discard the fronds.
Can you keep asparagus fern over winter?
Overwintering Asparagus Ferns Indoors
Asparagus ferns are grown as potted plants in most locations, whether they are grown indoors or outdoors. Outdoor-grown asparagus ferns will survive harsh winter weather best if brought indoors before temperatures dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do asparagus ferns come back every year?
An Asparagus Fern is a perennial plant.
Then they are plants that return year after year without needing to be replanted.
Why do my asparagus look like ferns?
Sending out foliage, aka the ferns, is a phase of growth that the asparagus plant needs to go through each year. It’s a healthy, normal part of the growing process. At the end of the growing season, you allow the plant to form lots of fluffy foliage that emerges from the spears.
Can you eat asparagus after it ferns?
Overgrown Asparagus Isn’t “Bolting”
That’s not the case with asparagus, so don’t be tempted to cut back the overgrown asparagus plant as it opens up and begins to fern. Its culinary value is just about nil, and you’ll be weakening the plant.
Is asparagus fern toxic to dogs?
Asparagus fern (also called emerald feather, emerald fern, sprengeri fern, plumosa fern, and lace fern) is toxic to dogs and cats. The toxic agent in this plant is sapogenin—a steroid found in a variety of plants. If a dog or cat ingests the berries of this plant, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain can occur.
What window should an asparagus fern be in?
east facing window
You can take 2 approaches when placing your asparagus ferns: Place directly in an east facing window. It will love that soft morning sun. A north window MAY be enough light but just keep an eye on it and if it’s looking sad, move it too a brighter locale.
What does a healthy asparagus fern look like?
Climbing asparagus ferns have scrambling feathery leaves that grow up to 8 ft. (2 m) high. The delicate green foliage is made up of thin needle-like leaves on the flattened branches. In spring, clusters of tiny white flowers appear before giving way to orange-red berries.
How do you make asparagus fern bushy?
Take a sharp pair of clean scissors and make a snip where you would like the stem to end. You can do this with all of the elongated stems given that they don’t make up over half the plant and then place your asparagus fern in a brighter spot and your plant should start to grow bushier rather than leggier.
What plants pair well with asparagus fern?
Asparagus Fern and Red Begonias
These feathery, trailing asparagus ferns contrast beautifully with dark red begonias. Asparagus fern care is easy. These feathery, trailing asparagus ferns contrast beautifully with dark red begonias.
How often should you water an asparagus fern?
Asparagus ferns can survive during periods of drought, but you should continue to water it every time the soil is dry. During the winter, you should water the plant less. You can water the plant once a week during the winter. The heat during the summer causes the ground to become dryer faster.
Can you split an asparagus fern?
However the simplest way to propagate an asparagus fern is to divide it in spring – a good time to do this is when you are repotting it. Simply divide the rootball into two or more sections, each with a piece of root, and pot into individual pots.
How often does asparagus fern bloom?
How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Fern
| Common Name | Asparagus fern |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | Slightly acidic (6.5-6.8) |
| Bloom Time | Spring to fall |
| Flower Color | White; flowers are insignificant |
| Hardiness Zones | 9-11 (USDA) |
Do you trim asparagus plants?
Pruning is an important part of proper edible plant care, and in the case of asparagus, it’s particularly easy to do. Asparagus foliage that forms after harvest is strengthening the crown and root system for next year’s crop, so you’ll want to prune in late fall or early winter.