Asparagus fern. Protasparagus aethiopicus
Native to South Africa
Asparagus fern is one of the most significant garden escapes invading the coastline. It survives well on dunes, headlands and in the rainforest understorey. In some places it has become the dominant ground cover displacing indigenous plants. A problem along the entire coast.
Form: Spreading nature, long arching stems up to 2m long.
Flower: Small, pinkish-white. Flowers chiefly spring to summer.
Fruit/Seed: Fruit ripens to bright red.
Control: The crown of the plant (where the stems meet the roots just below the soil surface) must be removed from the site and disposed of. The small light brown globular parts of the roots store water and are not capable of producing new plants.
Chemical controls are available.