Asparagus Densiflorus, Asparagus Sprengeri – Plant

Description

Asparagus densiflorus (asparagus fern, plume asparagus, foxtail fern) is an evergreen perennial plant, closely related to the vegetable asparagus, and native to southern Africa from Mozambique to South Africa. A. densiflorus has been confused with A. aethiopicus, Sprenger’s asparagus, now regarded as a separate species, so that information under the name A. densiflorus will often refer to A. aethiopicus.

As it cannot tolerate frost, in temperate regions A. densiflorus is usually grown under glass. Numerous cultivars have been developed, of which the compact form ‘Myersii’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Its dense 50 cm plumes of foliage are especially valued in flower arranging.