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Asparagus ferns

Asparagus ferns

Asparagus asparagoides

Asparagus Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus) is a perennial groundcover with sprawling wiry stems to 2 m long arising from underground rhizomes. The small flat needle-like leaves 1.5-2.5 cm
long by 0.2-0.3 cm wide are arranged in clusters of two to five.
Small spines may be present in the leaf axils. Tiny white to pinkish flowers are followed by small, bright red berries.

Climbing Asparagus Fern (Asparagus scandens) has green, wiry, multi-branched stems to 4 m. Leaves are bright green, scale-like, 0.5-1.5 cm by 0.1 cm, in dense groups of three. Flowers are small,
white and inconspicuous, from August to December. Fruit is fleshy, globular, 0.5-0.7 cm diameter, ripening to orange by early summer.

Roots are extensive, small, white tubers and rhizomes.

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Asparagus ferns

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Old Man Beard

Old Man’s Beard

Clematis microphylla

Twining woody climber with sparse foliage. Leaves usually as three oblong leaflets 0.8-3 cm long.

In spring the plants are covered with masses of attractive greenish-cream star shaped flowers 1.5-2.5 cm long. Male and female flowers are on different plants. Female flowers develop into clusters of fluffy seeds with long feathery plumes which give the plant its name. Can be grown as ground cover or climber but only gives sparse foliage cover. Naturally they climb over other trees or shrubs.

Old Man’s Beard