Asparagus suaveolens
Burch.
Asparagaceae
Asparagopsis spinescens Kunth
Asparagopsis suaveolens (Burch.) Baker
Asparagopsis triacantha Kunth
Asparagopsis zeyheri Kunth
Asparagus intangibilis Dinter
Asparagus omahekensis K.Krause
Asparagus spinescens Steud. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Asparagus spinosissimus Kuntze
Asparagus stipulaceus spinescens (Kunth) Baker
Asparagus triacanthus Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Protasparagus suaveolens (Burch.) Oberm.
Common Name:
Flowering plant at Schanskop, Pretoria
Photograph by: JMK
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering plant at Schanskop, Pretoria
Photograph by: JMK
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering plant at Schanskop, Pretoria
Photograph by: JMK
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Asparagus suaveolens is a shrub growing up to 1 metre tall.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its edible shoots, which are eaten locally.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Eastern and southern Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Easily grown in any good garden soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a rich sandy loam[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required.
Edible Uses
Young shoots[
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. No more details are given but it is likely that they are cooked and used like asparagus[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in containers in a lightly shaded position. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[
134- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rice. G. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1988
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until ready to plant out.
Division as the plant comes into growth.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
