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Asparagus virgatus (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.
Asparagus virgatus plant comes from south Eastern Africa where it typically grows along shaded waterways so it is surprising how drought tolerant this plant is. The name for the genus originates from the original Greek word 'asparagos' that was given to the cultivated asparagus and 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 in 2021.
This information about Asparagus virgatus displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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