Foxtail Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus)
ah-SPARE-ah-gus aethiopicus

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Arching, Sprawling in the Asparagaceae Family
An evergreen South African native grown for dense, arching stems of soft, needle-like foliage (cladodes, not true leaves) -- a textural accent for shaded containers, borders, or a low-maintenance houseplant up north.
Asparagus aethiopicus is an evergreen perennial from South Africa's coastal Cape region, grown for its wiry, arching stems clothed in soft, needle-like cladodes (flattened stem segments that function like leaves; true leaves are reduced to tiny scales). Tiny fragrant white flowers appear from late spring to early summer, followed by showy red berries in fall. In the ground it forms a loose, sprawling clump; in frost-free climates it is used as a groundcover or informal hedge, and further north it is grown as a houseplant or seasonal container plant, brought indoors before frost.

Pros

  • Thrives in shade where many plants struggle
  • Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established
  • Fine, airy texture contrasts well with bold-leaved companions
  • Easy to propagate by division

Cons

  • Not winter-hardy outside zone 9-11; must come indoors in Chicago
  • Stems carry small, easy-to-miss thorns
  • Berries are toxic if eaten and sap can irritate skin
  • Can self-seed and naturalize aggressively in warm climates
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Why Like In its native range along South Africa's coastal Cape region, this species scrambles and climbs through other vegetation using small recurved thorns along its wiry stems, its fine needle-like cladodes (modified stem tissue that only look like leaves) giving it a soft, feathery texture very different from a true fern. Tiny fragrant white flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by red berries that birds disperse -- part of why the species has naturalized and become invasive in warm-climate regions well outside its native range, including parts of Florida and Australia.
Highlights A South African evergreen grown for its wiry, arching stems of soft needle-like cladodes rather than true leaves -- fine-textured foliage that works as a filler or textural accent in shaded plantings, and adapts readily to container and houseplant culture where winters are too cold for it outdoors.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Tolerates some drought once established, but looks best with consistently moist (not soggy) soil.
Zones 9a - 11b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Adaptable, 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, Shade Tolerant, Showy Fruits, Spillers, Tender Perennial, Thorns, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late spring to early summer
Flower Color White
Foliage Color
 

Most Popular Plants

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with bold, broad-leaved shade plants that contrast with its fine texture -- hostas, caladiums, begonias, and impatiens -- or with other textural foliage plants in a mixed container.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 10/04
2024 : 02/08 - 05/18
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.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!