asparagus fern

asparagus fern

Asparagus (scientific name: Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop), also known as yunpian pine, asparagus, Yunzhu, Shancao, jirongzhi. It is a climbing plant of asparagiaceae and asparagus, with a height of 3-6 meters. Roots slightly fleshy, slender. The stem has many branches and nearly smooth branches. Leafy branches usually in clusters of 10-13, setate, slightly trilateral, 4-5 mm long; scalelike leaf base slightly spiny or inconspicuous spur. Flowers usually 1-3 (- 4) axillary, white, shortly stemmed; perianth segments ca. 7 mm. Berry about 6-7 mm in diameter, ripe purple black, 1-3 seeds.

It is native to the South and east of Africa and distributed in the central, northwest, Yangtze River Basin and south of China. It likes warm and humid environment with semi shade and ventilation. It is not resistant to severe cold and drought in winter, and avoid direct sunlight in summer.

Asparagus is a plant with high ornamental value. It is light, natural and graceful. It can be placed in the living room and study to add scholarly flavor.

(general picture, reference source: Chinese herbarium)

morphological character

The adult height of asparagus can reach 3-6 meters. The root of asparagus is slightly fleshy, and the stem is soft, tufted and slender. The stem has many branches, nearly smooth. Leaflike branches usually in clusters of 10-13, bristly, slightly trigonous, 4-5 mm long; scalelike leaf base slightly spiny or inconspicuous spur. Flowers usually 1-3 (- 4) axillary, white, shortly stemmed; perianth segments ca. 7 mm. The flowering period is from September to October. Berry about 6-7 mm in diameter, ripe purple black, 1-3 seeds. The fruiting period is from winter to next spring.

Growth environment

Asparagus likes warm and humid environment with semi shade and ventilation. It is not resistant to severe cold and drought in winter. It can not be watered too much. Its roots will rot and avoid direct sunlight in summer. It is better to cultivate in loose, fertile and well drained sandy loam rich in humus. The suitable temperature for growth is 15-25 ℃ and the overwintering temperature is 5 ℃. Born in the wild, but also cultivated in the garden.

Distribution range

It is native to the East and south of South Africa; it has been naturalized in central, northwest, Yangtze River Basin and South China in China.

Methods of reproduction

Sowing and propagation

Sowing propagation is the main method of asparagus propagation, and the most suitable sowing time is from March to April in spring.

Sowing method: rub the peel of mature asparagus seeds, clean and dry, and then sow. It will germinate 30-40 days after sowing.

division propagation

The cluster of asparagus is very strong, more than 3 years of asparagus will sprout new tillers in the rhizosphere, when the small plants grow, it can be divided into different parts for propagation. The best season for division propagation is spring. Take asparagus out of the flowerpot, and divide the clustered stems and roots into 2-3 clusters with a sharp knife, so that each cluster contains 3-5 buds, and then plant them in the pot separately to obtain new plants.

cultivation techniques

Key points of cultivation

Asparagus likes warm environment. The suitable temperature for its growth is 15 ℃ - 25 ℃. In summer, when the temperature is higher than 32 ℃, it will stop growing. It's better to keep the temperature above 10 ℃ in winter, and freezing injury will occur when the temperature is below 5 ℃.

It's better to put it in the room with astigmatism in the semi shady environment. In addition to winter, it can't be put in the place with direct sunlight in other seasons, especially in summer. At flowering stage, we should be afraid of both wind and rain, and pay attention to good ventilation, otherwise it will cause flower falling and no seed.

Asparagus like wet, but avoid watering too much. Because too much water will rot the roots. The higher the air humidity is, the better. When the weather is hot, spray water to the ground and branches around the plant frequently to increase the air humidity. The basin soil should not be too dry, too dry will make the asparagus wither.

Watering method: water once every 3-5 days in spring and autumn and once every 2 days in summer. If the temperature is low in winter, the amount of water should be reduced to avoid freezing the rhizome. At the same time, the water temperature should be close to the surrounding temperature.

Asparagus likes loose and fertile soil. At the same time, asparagus has high requirements for drainage. It is better to choose loose and good drainage soil such as humus soil and peat soil rich in humus. A little organic fertilizer can be added to the soil, which will be more conducive to the growth of plants.

Although asparagus is not a fertilizer loving plant, it can not lack of fertilizer. Fertilization should be thin and diligent, never thick fertilizer, otherwise it is easy to cause branches and leaves yellowing. In spring and summer growing season, nitrogen fertilizer is the main fertilizer, and the decomposed thin liquid fertilizer can be applied once a month. When the plant is shaped, fertilization should be properly controlled to avoid excessive growth and affect the appearance of the plant.

Plastic methods

The ratio of pot size to plant size should be 1:3, which can limit the growth of root system and keep the size of plant type unchanged.

When the new buds grow to 2-3cm, removing the growth point can promote the regeneration of branches and leaves on the stem, and control the non growth of vines, so that the branches and leaves are flat and the plant shape is constantly plump.

Turning the direction of flowerpot timely can correct the growth shape of branches and leaves and keep the plant type unchanged.

That is to say, hard paper is used to press the branches and leaves or block the sunlight, so that when the branches and leaves are growing, they will turn or bend to grow when they meet the object to block, so as to achieve the purpose of modeling.

Tower style: select 2-3 tall and beautiful stems as the main peak, remove all growth points on the stems, and set the plant height at 30-35cm. The remaining branches and new stems should not be higher than the main peak. For new buds, the growth point can be picked or not according to the thickness of the stem. If the stem is thicker than that of the main peak, it should be removed. If it is thinner than that of the main peak, it is unnecessary to pick and let it grow. At the same time, it is necessary to adjust the plant shape by means of shading method and its phototaxis.

Double cluster type: plant two asparagus plants in the basin, about 30 cm high and 18 cm low. During the growth period, it can be shaped like tower asparagus.

Natural style: the main plant type is the natural growth of asparagus, and the basic methods such as removing the growth point, covering and using its phototaxis are still adopted to make the branches and leaves stretch and give people a natural beauty.

Pest control

When the humidity is too high and the ventilation is not good, it is easy to cause leaf blight. It is necessary to reduce the air humidity and pay attention to ventilation and light transmission. After the onset of the disease, spray 200 times Bordeaux solution, or 50% carbendazim WP 500-600 times solution, or spray 50% tobramycin WP 1000 times solution. In summer, scale insects and aphids are easy to occur, which can be sprayed with 1000 times 40% Omethoate.

Main value

Medicinal value

The whole grass and root of asparagus can be used as medicine. The root of asparagus can moisten the lung and relieve cough. It can be used to treat tuberculosis cough, cough, phlegm asthma and dysentery. The whole herb of asparagus can cool blood and detoxify, diuresis and pass the rain. It can be used to treat stagnant heat, hemoptysis and urination.

Ornamental value

Asparagus is a small plant with high ornamental value. It's mainly potted foliage. It's light, elegant and quiet. It's a popular foliage ornamental flower. Especially in the study, desk, bedroom and living room, it has a pot of cinnabar potted asparagus, which is elegant, chic and generous. Asparagus is evergreen all the year round. It doesn't wither in winter, but it's better than floating flowers It's easy. The leaves are as thin as feathers. If they bloom, the flowers are small and white, but they are scattered. In the green cluster, they are elegant and lovely, but their fragrance is very strong.

Plant culture

The origin of the name

Asparagus means "elegant bamboo". Although asparagus is not a bamboo, its leaves are gentle, green all year round, and its branches are nodal. It looks like a bamboo, but compared with tall and straight bamboo, it also highlights the elegant and natural posture, so it is called asparagus. It has fine and beautiful leaves, dense as feathers, green clouds layer upon layer, elegant shape and unique charm, so it is also known as Yunzhu.

Flower language

A symbol of eternity, a friend's pure heart, will never change. Among the wedding flowers, it is a symbol of happy marriage and everlasting love.

Chinese PinYin : Wen Zhu