What Is The Difference Between Asparagus And Asparagus Fern?

Asparagus ferns are closely related to edible asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). While asparagus ferns don’t produce anything we can harvest and eat, they are versatile, reliable, easy to grow and useful in a variety of gardening situations. The most commonly grown asparagus fern is Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri.

Is asparagus and asparagus fern the same?

Asparagus ferns and edible garden asparagus are different species within the same Asparagus genus. Garden asparagus is A. officinalis, a slow-growing perennial vegetable. It has a similar appearance to the asparagus fern species, but it has delicious edible stems that are harvested before the plant leafs out in spring.

Why is asparagus fern called asparagus?

Asparagus fern is so named because its fronds look like the top of a stalk of asparagus. Surprisingly enough, asparagus fern is related to the lily (Liliaceae) family.

What are the different types of asparagus ferns?

AsparagusLower classifications

What’s another name for an asparagus fern?

Asparagus setaceus, commonly known as common asparagus fern, asparagus grass, lace fern, climbing asparagus, or ferny asparagus, is a climbing plant in the genus Asparagus. Despite its common name, the plant is not a true fern, but has leaves that resemble one.

Can you eat asparagus from asparagus fern?

Part of the common name is accurate, however. Asparagus ferns are closely related to edible asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). While asparagus ferns don’t produce anything we can harvest and eat, they are versatile, reliable, easy to grow and useful in a variety of gardening situations.

Should I trim my asparagus fern?

All asparagus fern types need hard pruning every three years to rejuvenate their growth. It is best done in spring before new growth emerges. Cut back the entire plant to within 2 to 3 inches of the soil using sharp, clean pruning shears and discard the fronds.

Do you trim asparagus plants?

Pruning is an important part of proper edible plant care, and in the case of asparagus, it’s particularly easy to do. Asparagus foliage that forms after harvest is strengthening the crown and root system for next year’s crop, so you’ll want to prune in late fall or early winter.

Why does my asparagus fern have long stems?

If you notice your asparagus fern becoming leggy and long stems growing outwards this is because they’re trying to grow towards the light. So if you notice this happening the best thing to do is to move your plant to a brighter spot.

Do asparagus ferns come back every year?

An Asparagus Fern is a perennial plant.
Then they are plants that return year after year without needing to be replanted.

Can you keep asparagus fern over winter?

Asparagus fern growing outdoors can withstand some very light frost, but freezing temperatures, below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, often kill the plant to the ground. After a light frost, the plants do grow back from the roots.

How do you identify an asparagus fern?

Asparagus fern produces long, upright or trailing, branching stems sparsely covered with sharp, stiff spines in the axils. The rounded stems, up to 6 feet long, are green to brown in color and have a shallow indentation along their length.

Can I put an asparagus fern outside?

A longtime favorite for adding texture to spaces indoors and out, asparagus fern is so versatile, you can grow it as a houseplant or outside in hanging baskets and container gardens. The plant’s fine texture looks great no matter where you grow it!

How do you tell the difference between a male and female asparagus plant?

Asparagus Sex Determination
Asparagus is dioecious, which means there are both male and female plants. Female asparagus produces seeds that look like little red berries. Male plants produce thicker, larger spears than females. The flowers on male plants are also larger and longer than those on females.

Is asparagus fern toxic to humans?

Symptoms: This plant is not considered toxic. Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. The prickles may also cause mechanical injury.

How often do you water an asparagus fern?

Water garden plants once or twice a week, so the soil doesn’t dry completely. Asparagus ferns are moderately drought tolerant, but they will grow at a slower rate without sufficient moisture, notes the University of Florida.

How big do asparagus ferns grow?

Expect an average mature size of three feet wide with branches about three feet in length. Some types may grow or spread several more feet under optimal conditions. With excellent care, your plants may reward you with 10 or more years of lush growth.

What happens if you don’t Trim asparagus?

THE BOTTOM LINE: You’ll throw away more asparagus if you snap off the ends, and the spears won’t look as long and elegant. For many reasons, we think trimming and peeling is worth the effort. SNAPPED: Snapping the natural breaking point means losing half the weight of almost every spear.

What is best fertilizer for asparagus?

The best fertilizer for asparagus will feature a balanced formula that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, such as a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 blend. Beginning in the fourth year, apply fertilizer after the final harvest in late spring or early summer, instead of a spring application.

How do you keep asparagus ferns from getting leggy?

How to Fix Leggy Asparagus Ferns

1. Spray the blades of your pruning tools with household antiseptic cleaner.
2. Cut your asparagus fern to the ground in early spring every three years to keep the plant full from base to tip.
3. Water well after pruning and allow the soil to almost dry between waterings.

Can you propagate asparagus fern from cuttings?

Unlike many other houseplants, Asparagus Ferns have tuberous roots which means stem cuttings won’t grow any roots. There is only really one way to successfully propagate an Asparagus Fern which is through division of a large mother plant.