I've had this plant, an asparagus fern I think it's called, for about 7 years now. It started out as a tiny plant, about 2 inches tall with no spread at all, and I got it from my grocery store where it was doing very poorly and had been reduced like 50 cents or something ridiculous. Anyway, I've repotted it a couple times, the last time being two or so years ago. And now it has this.....stalk thing.....I don't know what it's called, and it's never done this before, but it's growing right out of the middle of the plant. What IS it?
You have an asparagus fern or scientific name is "asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' " This is a very hardy fern that will take/tolerate full sun and cold temperatures...even down to below freezing for short periods of time. If you haven't noticed at each "leaf" there is a needle like thorn on the main stem right at each leaf juncture try not to gab the whole stem in your hand or you will feel the bite. Ronni, the tall thing is just a new stem shooting out of the roots. It is normal. as it matures it will look just like the rest of the plant.
This stalk is the beginnings of a new branch or stem. It will leaf or needle out as time goes by. Little non descript flowers happen along the stem at the needle site and later they may become berries or seeds. Your "asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'" doesn't seem to be unhealthy or in need of sun or anything. Looks good. :-D
Thanks waretrop. It lives outside in the warm months, and enjoys it! I bring it in when it starts to get cold, and it does OK, but it's obvious that by the time winter's drawing to a close, it's getting tired of being indoors, and is starting to look a bit peaked. Right now it's still very perky from all those summer months. Really? Wow, I'm tickled! If it's done that before, I wonder how I've never noticed....and obviously it HAS done it before because that's the way it grows, right? I guess maybe it just hasn't put out a stalk as long as this one, so it's just gotten buried in the rest of the foliage. Flowers, huh? I can't wait!!
That spike is a leaf stalk. The flowers happen along and next to the main stem or stalk at the needles or leaves. They are just little fluffs but you will definitely notice the berries or seeds. They are much smaller than peas and lay along the stalk or stem. I think they are either red or black. Been a long time since I have paid attention to them. I believe I had babies come up from seeds about 40 years ago. That was fun.
Well Barb is probably right, excuse my blurt. I hate this plant with a passion so don't pay much attention except to try to kill them when I have a minute at my Mom's house. Berries have gone all over the place & sprouted new ones, patches of them.
I am going to try some in the north shade bed next year, I want the berries to scatter and create babies. It's a big bed that I would live to see covered in green.
Toni, although I'm sure you'll be successful, want a box for postage to get started more quickly? That would be good motivation to dig some up before they make more berries. Variegated Vinca vine? Anyone else? Please PM me.
and Sprngeri? NOT in a million years, but thanks for the offer. I'll keep mine in a hanging basket and let is struggle through the winter if it survives it gets another shot for the summer....in a hanging basket. You can't kill the vinca up here, either...I keep pulling it out as much as I can. Just from one planter that I bought a few years ago. oops. Toni, use gloves, leather ones, to keep it in check. Whatever you do, don't grab the foliage with bare hands and pull. you will regret it for days.
My favorite is Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers', Foxtail Asparagus. It flowers the same way. I keep mine outside in the Summer and in the greenhouse for the Winter.
One of my aunts insisted that I dig up a piece of her Asparagus fern. If I remember correctly, she said someone gave it to her husband over 30 years ago. It grows in the same bed with the White Dinner Plate Hibiscus (I've started one from it's seeds). So... I finally managed to dig out a piece of it (not fun with the thorns) and planted in near my Dinner Plate (and some other things). I think that was mistake... it's already trying to take over that spot. I hate to just dig it up and toss it, because it is pretty, but it needs to be in a far away spot. Which I may have over by the succulent bed. I'll figure it out in the spring. I love the Foxtail ferns... I have two. They add so much interest to a flower bed and don't mind our wide range of temps.
