Climbing asparagus fern
Asparagus aethiopicus, A. africanus, A. plumosus and A. scandens
family
Asparagaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.
Common names
Climbing asparagus fern, African asparagus, Asparagus fern, Climbing asparagus, Ornamental asparagus.
A long-lived climber or scrambling sub-shrub with woody and prickly stems. Its stems bear short side-branches and with numerous tiny 'leaves' that give them a ferny appearance. These needle-like 'leaves' (6-15 mm long and only about 0.5 mm wide) are borne in small clusters. Its tiny white flowers, each with six 'petals', are produced in small clusters along the branchlets. Its rounded berries (5-6 mm across) turn from green to orange, and become somewhat shrivelled, as they mature.
Impact
Impact
Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales, and was listed as a priority environmental weed in one Natural Resource Management region. It is a major environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland, and was recently ranked among the top ten most invasive plants in this region. It is also a significant environmental weed in north-eastern New South Wales, particularly in coastal districts north from Lismore. Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) has only become naturalised in the last 30 years or so, and is still spreading. It is thought to have the potential to invade rainforests, open woodlands and riparian vegetation throughout the coastal and sub-tropical regions of eastern Australia.Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) scrambles over other vegetation and climbs up to 12 m into the canopies of taller trees. It can often completely smother smaller trees, understorey shrubs and ground layer plants and its fibrous roots form dense mats just below the soil surface, which are thought to interfere with the establishment and survival of seedlings of native species. In south-eastern Queensland this species is most prominent in remnant semi-evergreen vine thickets and brigalow forest communities, particularly in the Marburg and Boonah districts. It also invades gullies and some wetter eucalypt communities
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales, and was listed as a priority environmental weed in one Natural Resource Management region. It is a major environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland, and was recently ranked among the top ten most invasive plants in this region. It is also a significant environmental weed in north-eastern New South Wales, particularly in coastal districts north from Lismore. Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) has only become naturalised in the last 30 years or so, and is still spreading. It is thought to have the potential to invade rainforests, open woodlands and riparian vegetation throughout the coastal and sub-tropical regions of eastern Australia.Climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) scrambles over other vegetation and climbs up to 12 m into the canopies of taller trees. It can often completely smother smaller trees, understorey shrubs and ground layer plants and its fibrous roots form dense mats just below the soil surface, which are thought to interfere with the establishment and survival of seedlings of native species. In south-eastern Queensland this species is most prominent in remnant semi-evergreen vine thickets and brigalow forest communities, particularly in the Marburg and Boonah districts. It also invades gullies and some wetter eucalypt communities
