Asparagus Fern

A fast mover with a bite, in the wild the asparagus fern is considered invasive and won’t give up her home without a fight. Watch out for her thorns because although she might be soft to the touch on the surface, if you delve a little deeper there’ll be blood. Don’t be afraid to put on some gloves and get out the scissors, though. A haircut in the winter is always welcome to help her grow big and bushy. Oh, and she’ll welcome a good meal every so often. Feed once a month in the summer when the growing pains are in full swing.

If you gave this girl a bottle she’d drink it in minutes, but she’s not unfamiliar with drought so if you’re a bit forgetful she won’t hold it against you. Yellow leaves are a sure sign of thirst and they’ll start to pop up if she goes without a sip all week.

Unlike her namesake this houseplant is definitely not delicious sautéed in butter so don’t get inventive with your dinner choices. Keep her firmly away from pets and children and everyone will be happy.

Growing anywhere and everywhere is the name of the game with the asparagus fern. A definite fast grower, she can be trained to throw shapes with some fishing wire but she’s just as happy to hang loose in a basket or trail from a bookcase. Look out for different varieties, because this is a family of many siblings and they come in all shapes and sizes. She loves to moult, so don’t worry if a carpet of green forms around her. Just get out the hoover and carry on.