Plant in full sun to part shade. Irrigate regularly, occasionally to infrequently - quite drought tolerant even in containers. Cold hardy to around 20 °F. Can be pruned sculpturally and is a popular plant for bonsai or as a container plant both indoors and out (in mild climates) where it can tolerate infrequent irrigation and long periods between repotting, though this itself is a chore as the root mass is large and very durable. The cut foliage is great in flower arrangements and can last between 1 and 2 weeks.

Asparagus retrofractus plant comes from arid regions of South Africa where it grows from the peninsula north to the Karoo and Namibia where its Afrikaner name is katdoring; other common names include Ming Fern, Pom Pom Asparagus Fern and Zig Zag Shrub. The name for the genus originates from the original Greek word 'asparagos' that was given to the cultivated asparagus and the specific epithet is the Latin word meaning "twisted backwards" in reference to the stems that zigzag. We grew this sculpturally interesting plant on off from 1981 until 2022. 

Information displayed on this page about Asparagus retrofractus is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.