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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Physical Characteristics

Asparagus setaceus is an evergreen Climber growing to 3 m (9ft 10in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 9. It is in leaf all year. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Protasparagus setaceus. (Kunth.)Oberm.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Stem
Edible Uses:

Young shoots[177]. No more details are given but it is likely that they are cooked and used like asparagus[K].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Erosion control, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore. Easily grown in any good garden soil[200]. Prefers a rich sandy loam[1]. This species is not very cold-hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c[260]. It might succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country if given a warm sheltered position[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[134]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K]. Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Asparagus abyssinicus		Perennial	0.0	-	LMH	SN	DM	2	0
Asparagus acutifolius		Perennial	1.5	7-10	LM	SN	DM	3	0
Asparagus adscendens		Shrub	0.0	-	LMH	SN	M	2	1
Asparagus albus		Perennial	1.0	7-10	LMH	SN	DM	1	0
Asparagus aphyllus		Perennial	1.0	-	LMH	SN	DM	2	0
Asparagus cochinchinensis	Chinese Asparagus	Perennial	1.5	6-9	LMH	SN	M	3	3
Asparagus dauricus		Perennial	0.6	-	LM	N	DM	1	0
Asparagus filicinus	Fern Asparagus	Perennial	0.7	7-10	LMH	SN	M	2	1
Asparagus maritimus		Perennial	0.6	-	LM	N	DM	1	0
Asparagus officinalis	Asparagus, Garden asparagus	Perennial	1.5	2-9	LMH	SN	M	4	3	2
Asparagus racemosus	Shatavari	Perennial	7.0	8-11	LMH	SN	DM	3	5
Asparagus sauveolens		Perennial	1.0	-	LMH	SN	M	1	0
Asparagus schoberioides		Perennial	1.0	-	LMH	SN	M	2	1
Asparagus stipularis		Perennial	0.0	-	LMH	N	DM	1	0
Asparagus tenuifolius		Perennial	1.0	-	LMH	N	DM	1	0
Asparagus verticillatus		Perennial	4.0	5-9	LMH	SN	M	2	0
Lotus tetragonolobus	Asparagus Pea, Winged pea	Annual	0.3	0-0	LMH	N	DM	3	0
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum	Bath Asparagus, Pyrenees star of Bethlehem	Bulb	0.6	5-9	LMH	SN	M	2	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

(Kunth.)Jessop.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Paul Darrington	Wed Feb 6 2008

Asparagus plumosus is a noxious weed here in Australia. It produces many small, watery tubers that have a very bland taste. Despite the bland taste, the fact that it grows in such abundance, would make it an ideal wild edible, however.. I can not find any information on its ediblity or constituents (tubers or berries), and therefore would not reccomend it to anyone as an edible. so far we have had no reactions to eat, in the small quantites we've consumed (raw). amongst its bland watery flavour, there is a very very mild flavour of some alkaloid. sorry i could not provide a conclusive 'yes or no' on this yet.

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Asparagus setaceus - (Kunth.)Jessop.