African asparagus fern vs Common asparagus fern

Asparagus asparagoides compared with Asparagus setaceus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African asparagus fern	Common asparagus fern
Kingdom same	Plantae (植物)	Plantae (植物)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (木兰植物门)	Magnoliophyta (木兰植物门)
Class same	Liliopsida (百合纲)	Liliopsida (百合纲)
Order same	Asparagales (天门冬目)	Asparagales (天门冬目)
Family same	Asparagaceae	Asparagaceae
Genus same	Asparagus	Asparagus
Species	Asparagus asparagoides	Asparagus setaceus

Evolutionary Relationship

African asparagus fern and Common asparagus fern share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Asparagus.

Conservation Status

African asparagus fern

NE — Not Evaluated

Common asparagus fern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African asparagus fern	Common asparagus fern
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

African asparagus fern

Habitat

Inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Morocco), Europe (9 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Uruguay).

Common asparagus fern

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Algeria, Seychelles), Asia (4 countries), Europe (5 countries), North America (Cuba, Dominican Republic, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (4 countries), and South America (4 countries).

African asparagus fern

The African asparagus fern (Asparagus asparagoides) is a species in the genus Asparagus. Inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Common asparagus fern

<em>Asparagus setaceus</em>, commonly known as Common Asparagus Fern or Lace Fern, is a climbing or sprawling perennial plant in the family Asparagaceae. Despite its common name, it is not a true fern but a flowering plant with feathery, fern-like cladodes that give it a delicate, lacy appearance. This species has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN and is widely distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. Native to southern Africa, it has been widely introduced globally through horticulture and can become invasive in some regions. Common Asparagus Fern typically grows in a range of habitats including grasslands, wetland margins, and forest edges, often using its small hooks to climb over other vegetation. Small white or pinkish flowers are followed by dark berries that attract birds, facilitating seed dispersal. It is valued as an ornamental plant for its feathery foliage and is commonly used in floral arrangements. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 10 countries:

🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇪🇸 Spain 🇺🇸 United States 🇺🇾 Uruguay