Scientific Name:
Asparagus virgatus
Pronunciation:
ah-SPAIR-ah-gus vur-GAY-tus
Common Name:
tree fern, African broom fern
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Plant Type:
Flowering cut plant
Key ID Features:
Highly branched and extremely fine-textured (fern-like to some); leaves alternate but reduced to scales; cladodes in clusters of 3-6, needle-like, most 10-15mm long x <0.2-0.5mm wide.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Irregular
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Africa
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Cut flower or foliage, Floristry (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound, Fern-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Bipinnate
Shapes:
Acicular
Apices:
Acute
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
True leaves reduced to spines; 'leaves' are specialized stems called 'cladophylls'. Cladophylls short, in whorls of 3.
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Six tepals; rarely seen locally
Fruit Type:
Berry (true)
Fruit Colour:
Red
Fruiting Time:
Sep
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, poisonous, unlikely to see locally
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, Spines, Tuberous roots
Maintenance:
Low
