Asparagus Ferns

If you’re looking for a great and easy to care for plant to add to your home, why not consider an asparagus fern? They’re found at all kinds of garden stores and are usually very inexpensive (less than $5). Here’s the lowdown on the plants.

Facts about the Asparagus fern:

• Actually a weed from South Africa. But a pretty weed!
• These things are pretty dang hard to kill. I neglected the crap out of one and while it lost a few branches it has recovered wonderfully and has been growing out of control.
• They flower! With enough light these puppies with produce tiny white flowers in the spring.
• They fruit! In the summer, you’ll see little green berries appear on stems. They’ll turn red as they ripen.
• Pets love to eat it, but make sure to keep it well out of their way. It can be toxic to their little systems.
• It is not in any way, shape or form a fern.

The plumosa is still part of the asparagus fern family, but looks much more tree-like than the standard asparagus ferns. It will still flower and produce berries and is just as hardy as a houseplant. It seems able to do well in both part shade and full (but indirect) sun and doesn’t freak out if you move it between the two. I have one in my living room that has tripled in size in the past six months and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, growing like the weed it is. It might look familiar because in addition to being a houseplant it is often used in floral arrangements.