Asparagus aethiopicus

Family: Asparagaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Asparagus aethiopicus is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal areas in disturbed places and abandoned gardens at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces small white to greenish-white flowers in delicate axillary racemes with 5 to 9 blooms. Growing with sprawling stems up to 2 meters long and very thin branchlets less than 1 millimeter wide, it develops fibrous and tuberous roots. Its membranous leaves are subtle and unspurred, creating a delicate green groundcover. The fruit develops as small round red berries 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, adding visual interest to the plant's spreading form.

Habitat: Disturbed places, abandoned gardens

Bloom period: Aug-Oct

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: SCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.