''Asparagus falcatus'' (Sicklethorn, Large Forest Asparagus, Imblekazana or Doringtou) is a large, thorny, climbing

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

of the '' Asparagus'' genus, that is indigenous to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

and

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

. It is often grown as a security hedge in southern Africa.

Appearance

This local '' Asparagus'' species sends up long shoots (sometimes up to 7 meters high) from its base of roots and massive

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

s. These shoots are initially soft and curl around branches or fences. However, they soon harden, and the downward-pointing

thorn Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature * Rose and Thorn, the two personalities of two DC Com ...

s help to hook the tendril onto its support - as well as providing defence. The leaves are dark-green, thin and curved.
It produces fragrant white

blossom In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus ''Prunus'') and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring. Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as wel ...

s that are followed by bright red berries, each containing a shiny black seed. The fruits attract a wide variety of birds.

Distribution

, this creeper is indigenous to the forests of the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

and Kwazulu Natal. It also occurs in neighbouring

''Asparagus falcatus'' in cultivation

This rapidly growing climber can be grown in very shady parts of a garden, although it also tolerates some sun. It also prefers moist spots, though once established it can also tolerate some drought.
It serves as a very good safety hedge when planted along a fence that it can grow up through. It can easily be propagated by seed, although it can also be grown from cuttings/trucheons.

Appearance

Distribution

''Asparagus falcatus'' in cultivation

References

Further reading