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Identify please

g.thornley74864597g.thornley74864597 Posts: 8
in Plants
Hello. I have a house plant that my wife planted not long before she passed away. I did not look after it very well or tend it for at least 6 or more months before I decided to water it at least. After awhile it began to grow a little, so I moved it to a better position and even gave it a feed, which it loved. It has grown remarkably and It is beginning to resemble one of thise plants in sci-fi horror movies where anyone passing within reach of the leaves will be grabbed and slowly devoured. Not being a gardener I don't know what it is, but several people say it is a asparagus fern, but it does not look like any of the plants I have seen on various sites. It does have tiny white flowers. I would like to know if I can trim it back, if so, when, take a cutting of it or cut the roots and divide. Any help would be gratefully accepted. Thanks.

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It looks like asparagus fern to me! Latin name Aspasagus densiflorus sprengeri. It's not actually a fern at all (so it can produce flowers - a true fern wouldn't) - more info here https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/asparagus-fern.html .
    This site has a pic of the flowers - are they what yours looked like? http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Asparagus%20Fern.html
    You're doing something right - mine occasionally drops leaves and turn brown for no apparent reason, and I've never seen it flower.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • g.thornley74864597g.thornley74864597 Posts: 8
    Hi Jennyj. Thank you. I will check out the links. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I inherited one from the previous owners of my house. I didn't know what it was so at first I just watered it when it felt dry. Then I put it out on the patio in a shady corner in summer and watered it when I remembered and it grew like mad so I gave it a hair cut as it was dragging on the ground and it grew bushier and long again.

    Now I know it's an Asparagus fern and you can prune it.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • g.thornley74864597g.thornley74864597 Posts: 8
    Thanks. I will give mine a haircut.
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