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Houseplants

Asparagus densiflorus

emerald fern

An evergreen houseplant grown for its bright green, densely feathery fronds which drape gracefully downwards with age. Rarely, insignificant pale flowers are produced which, if pollinated, may become red berries

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen, fruits are harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Asparagus can be evergreen or deciduous perennials or subshrubs, sometimes climbing, with tuberous rootstock. Stems bear both inconspicuous scale-like leaves and larger, leaf-like phylloclades, with small white or pinkish flowers followed by red berries
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a frost-free room in any soil, in good but not direct, sunlight. Can go outside in summer when night time temperatures stay above 5C

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Cut flowers
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to asparagus beetle, slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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