About Asparagus scandens Thunb.
Asparagus scandens Thunb. is a hardy scrambling or climbing perennial plant. It has finely divided leaf-like cladodes and underground tubers. It favors shady, moist locations but can tolerate some drought. Unlike other asparagus ferns, this species does not produce thorns. It bears numerous tiny white drooping flowers, which are followed by small spherical fruits that are orange when young and turn red later. These fruits attract birds, which help disperse the plant's seeds. This species is endemic to the shady afro-montane forests of the Western Cape, South Africa. Within this region, it occurs from the indigenous woods and kloofs of Cape Town, eastward to the Tsitsikamma Mountains. It is cultivated in South African gardens as a useful ornamental plant, suited for growing in deep shade. It will climb over any available sticks, pillars or trellises, or can grow to form a thick, feathery groundcover.
