Plant Profile
Asparagus Densiflorus var Cwebe
Common names: Cwebe asparagus fern, Cwebe emerald fern, Cwebe basket asparagus
Plant Type :
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Evergreen :
Indigenous :
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Sub Shrub
Up to 50 cm
Evergreen
Indigenous
Dappled Shade
Little water
Well Drained Soil
Sheltered, warm position
Frost Tender
An ornamental perennial with spreading fronds of needle-like leaflets. Asparagus stems are extremely popular in floristry, used predominantly as filler foliage, with A. plumosus being the most widely used.
It is an especially easy plant for beginner gardeners to use and enjoy, as it is so very easy to grow and does not require any special care. This asparagus fern grows in any soil and will tolerate some drought and periods of neglect once established, but it does look its best in well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter.
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Cwebe’ is easily propagated from seed. Cuttings are not a viable method of propagation. Collect fully ripened fruit then remove the seeds from the fleshy berries; there is no pre-treatment of the seeds required. Sow seed fresh for best results in a suitable sowing medium, keep in a warm spot in an area that is protected from the wind, in light shade; ensure the soil stays moist but not wet, by watering as required. The seeds will germinate in 4 to 6 weeks; the growth from seeds is slow but steady.
Foliage
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The real leaves of this plant are heavily-reduced, bract-like spurs which, when mature, harden to form the characteristic spines of this species. This species has very small, hardly noticeable spines. New foliage is a shiny, rich copper-bronze colour.
Flower
Time : Colour :
Use :
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Summer / Autumn
White , Light Pink
Unspecified
Unspecified
- Flower morphology
Tiny, sweetly fragrant white flowers are borne close along the stems, nestled in the branch axils, and occur erratically from November to April.
When in flower, the sweetly scented flowers attract pollinating insects which in turn attract insectivorous birds and reptiles.
NOTES
Commonly known as the asparagus fern, or emerald fern, although it is not actually a fern at all. These common names have originated from the foliage resembling a fern leaf, and from the plants growing in the same environments and habitats as ferns.
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Cwebe’ does well outdoors in the garden massed as a groundcover, or as filler plants. The fine foliage can be used to good visual effect for textural contrast in combination with plants having larger leaves and is also very suitable to being used to complement water features, such as ponds.
