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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asparagaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Asparagus virgata (African Broom Fern) An upright evergreen perennial to 3 feet tall by about 2 feet wide with airy nearly vertical stems holding tiny soft thread-like leaves arranged like a wispy broom at the stem tips. Tiny white late spring and summer flowers are followed in late summer by attractive globose red fruit dangling on slender peduncles - older fruit darkens to near black. Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigate regularly to only occasionally. It is winter hardy down to at least 5 to 10° F and useful in gardens in USDA Zone 7b and above. This plant is attractive with an unusual fine texture and has great garden performance. Its cut foliage, with or without the fruit is long lasting in floral arrangements. This plant comes from South Eastern Africa where it typically grows along shaded waterways so it is surprising how drought tolerant this plant is. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'virga' meaning a "twig" , "sprout" or "stalk" in reference to the way the leaves cluster at the top of the stems. It is also commonly known as Tree fern and Tiki fern. We first grew this plant in 1992, having received seed from Florever, a cut flower grower in Mexico, but let it slip from production after only a few years. After seeing it in a few landscapes, and at the urging of some other Asparagus lovers, we have brought it back in production in 2010 and now have good stands of it growing about the nursery.
Information displayed on this page about Asparagus virgatus is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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