Genus · Asparagaceae
Asparagus
5 species tracked in Horta’s catalog, and the named cultivars growers keep. Walk down to a species for its full care record, or into a cultivar for its traits and provenance.
Species in this genus
The ones growers meet most — each links to its own page.
Asparagus officinalis
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis is a hardy temperate perennial from open, often sandy ground across Europe and central Asia, with a fleshy storage rootstock that resents standing water. Give it bright light and let the top inch of mix dry before watering again, then water deeply. Its rooting habit favors free-draining soil and a season of cooler dormancy.
Asparagus setaceus
Common Asparagus Fern
Asparagus setaceus is a scrambling perennial from southern and eastern Africa, with fine, fern-like foliage on wiry stems and a fleshy, water-storing root system. Give it bright, indirect light out of harsh midday sun, and let the top inch of mix dry before watering again, since the roots hold reserves and sit poorly in soggy soil. It accepts ordinary household humidity but appreciates a little extra airflow and moisture if the fine foliage browns at the tips.
Asparagus densiflorus
Asparagus Fern
A perennial from southern Africa that stores moisture in fleshy, tuberous roots, so it tolerates drying out far better than sitting wet. Give it bright indirect light and water only when the top inch or two of mix is dry; the swollen roots rot if kept saturated. It can take some morning sun but harsh direct light may scorch the fine foliage.
Asparagus aethiopicus
Asparagus Fern
Asparagus aethiopicus is a climbing perennial from the summer-rainfall regions of southern Africa, with fleshy tuberous roots that store water and resent staying wet. Give it bright indirect light and let the top inch of mix dry before watering, roughly every 7 to 14 days, watering less in the cooler months. The water-storing roots make it far more tolerant of brief drought than of soggy soil.
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Chinese Asparagus
A perennial climber from the woodlands and scrub of East and Southeast Asia, this Asparagus relative grows from fleshy tuberous roots that store water and resent staying wet. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top inch or two of mix has dried, letting it approach dry between waterings. Its tuberous roots make it more forgiving of drought than of soggy soil.
About the genus
A genus-level overview — shared traits, history, the botany that ties these plants together — is on its way. For now, the species and cultivars above and below carry the genus.
Kept true by its growers
Asparagus keeps evolving — species move, cultivars appear, IDs get corrected. If you can place an unplaced plant or add a species we’re missing, the whole genus gets truer.
Overview derived from 5 tracked species · the contribute flow arrives with the next slice.