How To Care For Asparagus Ferns: Experts Share Their Top Do's & Don'ts

There are tons of plants that can lend life to your at-home jungle, but none recreate that forest floor feeling quite like an asparagus fern.

Asparagus ferns (Asparagus setaceus) are native to the forest floors of southern and eastern Africa. "In the wild, they grow as a perennial shrub in subtropical conditions," Paris Lalicata, plant education coordinator at The Sill, tells mbg.

Asparagus ferns' native habitat tells you about the conditions it craves: warm, humid, sunny environments that also have a bit of shade.

Despite its name, the plant does not resemble asparagus—and it's actually not even really a fern! Instead, it's part of the asparagaceae family, along with other popular flowering plants like agave and dracaena. And while its foliage resembles a fern, it doesn't reproduce via spores as true ferns do.

Another thing that sets this plant apart is its tuberous roots: These bulblike root structures act as little storage containers for the plant, saving resources for when they're most needed. Adaptations like these make asparagus ferns relatively hardy and low maintenance and allow them to grow quickly given the right care.

Since they can be such prolific growers, asparagus ferns are actually considered an invasive species in some states, including Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and California. Before planting it in your yard, consider how it will affect the local environment and maybe opt for a native variety instead.

If you do choose to move forward with the asparagus fern, Debbie Neese, the horticulture expert at Lively Root, recommends placing it in a spot that gets four to six hours of partial morning sun and afternoon shade. "In full sun, it could survive but would need high humidity and moisture content in the soil," she says.

This tropical plant will thrive year-round in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-12. If you live in a cooler environment, you'll need to take it inside for the season once temperatures dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a houseplant, the asparagus fern likes bright to medium light. It would be happy next to a window that gets four to six hours of sun a day, with a little shade thrown in.

Like many tropical plants, this one appreciates moist conditions—but, Lalicata cautions, "that doesn't mean you shouldn't let its soil ever dry out." Wait until the top 2 to 3 inches of your plant's soil feel dry to the touch before giving it a good soak.

This is one plant that can handle a regular misting. Its thin, feathery leaves make it less likely to develop fungal infections from the added moisture, Lalicata explains.

This plant isn't finicky about soil, and Lalicata says that any standard indoor potting mix should do the trick. If anything, she says you can add some extra perlite or vermiculite to further aerate the soil and provide some extra drainage. (If you do, keep in mind that you might have to water your plant more frequently.) She adds that a loam soil—a mix of sand, silt, and clay—can also work for this plant.

As you're changing out your plant's soil, make sure it hasn't outgrown its pot. If you notice its roots are jammed against the side of the pot and curling in on each other, it probably needs a container that's 1 to 2 inches larger in size. Always use a pot with drainage holes.