About Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce
Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce is a herbaceous vine that grows with a scrambling or climbing habit, reaching up to 3 metres (10 feet) in length. Instead of true leaves, it has shiny green, leaf-like flattened stems called phylloclades, which grow up to 4 centimetres long and 2 centimetres wide. Its hanging white flowers bloom during winter and spring, between July and September. This plant grows from a rhizome, and produces tubers that reach up to 6 centimetres (2.4 inches) long by 2 centimetres (0.8 inches) wide. Its native range extends across tropical Africa, southward to Namibia and the fynbos biome of South Africa, reaching as far south as Cape Town. It has become naturalized in parts of southern California and Australia, where it is classified as an invasive plant. Often known by the common name smilax, Asparagus asparagoides is commonly used for floral arrangements and home decoration.
