How to Grow Asparagus Fern

Asparagus fern belongs to the Liliacea (lily) family. It produces 2- to 6-feet arching stems that look feathery. The fern grows 2- to 3-feet tall and often spreads up to 4 feet. Red berries appear in the summer from its 1/2-inch white flowers. The Asparagus fern makes nice potted plants, hanging baskets and grows well in window boxes. Outside areas include borders and around trees.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Asparagus fern seeds
• Potted plant
• Potting soil
• Peat moss
• Sand
• Garden trowel
• Water
• Indoor plant food

1. Purchase Asparagus Fern seeds or potted plants from a nursery center. Recommended seeds include Asparagus plumosus and Asparagus sprengeri.

2. Mix 1/3 each of potting soil, peat moss and sand with a small garden trowel for a potted plant. The plant grows naturally in moist sand and loam type soils.

3. Find an outside location with partial shade. Too much shade produces yellow foliage. Indoor plants need bright light.

4. Water then let the soil dry before re-watering.

5. Fertilize between spring and early fall on a weekly basis. Dilute indoor plant food by half for potted fern and follow directions.

6. Transfer to a larger pot when the roots fill its container. After removing the root ball, split it into two sections to propagate another plant. Replant one part of the fern in the original pot and the other in the larger pot, or plant the whole fern in the larger pot.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow Asparagus ferns outside in the ground in zone 8 to 11. Zone 8's low temperatures, 10 to 20 F, kills the foliage, but quickly recovers. Bring potted plants inside in zones lower than 8 before frost, then place them back out on sunny days.
• Grow asparagus fern in the ground about 20 inches apart.
• The state of Florida considers this fern as invasive and disruptive to other plants due its growth in the wild.