Asparagus asparagoides
African asparagus fern
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asparagaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Asparagus asparagoides (African asparagus fern) is a non-native California vine in the Asparagaceae family, recognized by distinctive broad branchlets.
African asparagus fern is a naturalized perennial found in the central Coast, southern Southern California, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed places and fields at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from December to April, this plant produces small green-white flowers in bell-shaped arrangements. Growing as a climbing or sprawling plant with tuberous roots, it can reach lengths of 1 to 5 meters with branchlets up to 20 millimeters wide. Its distinctive foliage lacks spurs and spreads in complex, tangled formations. The fruit develops as a small 6 to 8 millimeter sphere that transitions to vibrant red, blue, or purple when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive broad branchlets are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places, fields
Elevation: < 1700 m
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Asparagus asparagoides blooms Dec-Apr.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Ruscus: Both flower on green modified stems, but Ruscus cladodes are broad, rigid and leaf-like with flowers borne on their surface; Asparagus cladodes are needle-like to thread-fine and clustered, with flowers in axillary racemes.; vs ferns: Asparagus 'fern' foliage is made of green cladodes and the plant flowers and sets red berries; true ferns never flower, reproducing by spores under the frond.; vs Muehlenbeckia: Asparagus has clustered needle cladodes and red berries; Muehlenbeckia (wireweed) is a wiry vine with small rounded true leaves and a papery ocrea at the nodes.; vs Ephedra: Asparagus is a soft green sprawler with cladodes and berries; Ephedra (Mormon tea) is a rigid jointed desert shrub with opposite scale-leaves and cones.; vs Smilax: Asparagus has soft needle-like cladodes and no tendrils; Smilax (greenbrier) has broad net-veined true leaves and paired tendrils, often on prickly stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Asparagus asparagoides native to California?
No. Asparagus asparagoides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Asparagus asparagoides bloom?
Asparagus asparagoides blooms Dec-Apr.
What plant family does Asparagus asparagoides belong to?
Asparagus asparagoides is in the Asparagaceae family, genus Asparagus.
Is Asparagus asparagoides invasive in California?
Asparagus asparagoides is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Asparagus asparagoides grow in?
Asparagus asparagoides grows in Disturbed places, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.