Scientific Name:
Asparagus densiflorus
'Sprengeri'
Pronunciation:
ah-SPAIR-ah-gus den-see-FLOR-us
Common Name:
Sprengeri asparagus fern
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (grown as), Flowering cut plant, Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Foliage of flattened branchlets (resembles a fern to some), spines ~1cm long at nodes; flattened, needle-like cladodes in clusters of 3, linear, most ~2cm long x ~2mm wide.
Habit:
Arching, Pendulous
Form:
Weeping
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa - southern
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Cut flower or foliage, Hanging basket, Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Needle-like, Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Tripinnate
Colour in Fall:
Green-yellow
Shapes:
Acicular
Apices:
Acute
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
True leaves reduced to basal spines; functioning 'leaves' are actually modified stems called cladophylls.
Inflorescence Type:
Panicle
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Aug
Additional Info:
Six tepals
Fruit Type:
Berry (true)
Fruit Colour:
Red
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Nov
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Spines, Tuberous roots, Cladodes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
Medium
Light Level:
Medium
Maintenance:
Low
Other:
Requires frequent repotting or division
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids, Mealybugs, Mites (Drought tolerant)
