Origin

• This member of the lily family was discovered in the Natal Province of South Africa and named for its collector, Herr Springer. An Italian seed company was the first to make the asparagus fern available to plant lovers. An early plant compendium, the 1900 Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, claims that it was introduced to the trade in 1890.
  
  

Description

• Upon close examination of the asparagus fern, you will see that it cannot be a true fern since it produces flowers and berries. The inconspicuous pinkish-white flowers are followed by red berries. What look to be its leaves are actually short branches, called cladodes. Its true leaves start out green, then become dry scales. According to the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and Microbiology, the berries and sap of the plant are poisonous.
  
  

Uses

• The asparagus fern sends out new growth from a basal clump, creating cascades of feathery foliage. It looks especially lovely in a hanging basket, or draping over the edge of a display table. Pots of asparagus ferns impart a decorative touch to planters on patios and porches during the summer months. Greenery of the asparagus fern can even be used to fill out a vase with cut flowers.
  
  

Care

• The asparagus fern does best with medium bright exposure--too much shade can cause the plant to turn yellow. It appreciates receiving a uniform amount of moisture. Although asparagus fern is fairly drought tolerant, it will shed its leaves if it is allowed to become too dry. This is a houseplant that can live for a long time and even become a family heirloom, according to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
  
  

Invasive Species

• Although popular as a houseplant, the asparagus fern can be problematic in the wild. Listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as an invasive species, asparagus fern forms colonies along roadsides and the forest understory, displacing native species. The University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants suggests that Florida state residents not purchase, propagate or plant the asparagus fern. Even potted specimens should be avoided outdoors, since birds are attracted to the bright red fruit, aiding the plant's spread in the wild.