Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus)
[ah-SPARE-ah-gus den-sih-FLOOR-us]

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Asparagaceae Family
An evergreen South African native prized for its dense mounds of wiry, needle-like foliage (cladodes, not true leaves) -- a graceful filler for containers, hanging baskets, and shaded borders in frost-free climates.
Asparagus densiflorus is an evergreen perennial from South Africa's coastal Cape region, closely related to but distinct from A. aethiopicus, grown for its dense, arching mounds of wiry stems clothed in soft, needle-like cladodes (flattened stem tissue that functions like foliage; true leaves are reduced to tiny scales). Small white to pinkish-white flowers appear on mature, well-lit plants from spring through fall, followed by showy red berries. Widely used as a filler in containers and hanging baskets, and as a houseplant or seasonal patio plant where winters are too cold for it outdoors.

Pros

  • Fine, feathery texture pairs well with bold-leaved companions
  • Tolerates a wide range of light from full shade to full sun
  • Low-maintenance and forgiving of missed waterings once established
  • Easy to propagate by division

Cons

  • Not winter-hardy outside zone 9-11; must overwinter indoors in Chicago
  • Small thorns line the stems
  • Berries are toxic if eaten and sap can irritate skin
  • Can self-seed and naturalize in frost-free climates
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Why Like Native to South Africa's coastal Cape region, this species forms dense tuberous-rooted clumps of wiry stems clothed in soft, needle-like cladodes (modified stem tissue, not true leaves) -- true leaves are reduced to tiny scales. Small white to pinkish-white flowers appear on mature, well-lit plants and are followed by bright red berries that birds readily disperse, part of why the species has naturalized outside its native range in some warm-climate regions.
Highlights A South African evergreen grown for its dense, arching mounds of soft needle-like cladodes rather than true leaves -- a versatile, fine-textured filler for shaded containers, hanging baskets, and borders, or a forgiving houseplant where winters are too cold for it outdoors.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Tolerates some drought once established, but looks best with consistently moist (not soggy) soil, especially during the spring-through-fall growing season.
Zones 9a - 11b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Adaptable, Annual in Chicago, Attracts Birds, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Evergreen, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Fragrant Flowers, Full Shade, Full Sun, Good Indoor Plant, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Hanging Basket, House Plants, Insignificant Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to Africa, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Fruits, Spillers, Tender Perennial, Thorns, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Spring through fall (mature plants)
Flower Color White to Pinkish-White
 

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More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Its fine, airy texture contrasts nicely with bold-leaved companions such as hostas, caladiums, begonias, and impatiens, or with other textural foliage in a mixed container.

Photos of This with...

Asparagus Fern, Crested Surf Japanese Painted Fern, Proven Accents Pegasus Begonia, Heart To Heart Flatter Me Elephant Ear, Heart to Heart Bottle Rocket Elephant Ear, Heart to Heart Chinook Elephant Ear, Heart to Heart Raspberry Moon Elephant Ear, Superbells Watermelon Punch Calibrachoa, Hippo Pink Polka Dot Plant, Hippo White Polka Dot Plant, Rockapulco Red Impatiens, Sweet Caroline Raven Improved Sweet Potato, Luscious Berry Blend Lantana, Goldilocks Creeping Jenny, Dwarf Creeping Wire Vine, Charmed Wine Shamrock, Jester Ornamental Millet, Supertunia Picasso in Pink Petunia, Lemon Coral Stonecrop, ColorBlaze Torchlight Coleus, Be My Sunshine Calla Lily,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 07/26
2024 : 02/08 - 06/02
2023 : 03/02 - 07/08


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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