• Image of Asparagus sp. 'Ellington'|Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gdn, NC|

    Photo by taken at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gdn, NC

  • Image of Asparagus sp. 'Ellington'|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Asparagus sp. 'Ellington'

Ellington Hardy Asparagus Fern

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 6570

Zones: 7b to 10b, possibly colder

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 18" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: South Africa

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Logo indicating plant is one of Plant Delights' Introductions
(aka: A. A1SA-193) We discovered this interesting asparagus fern in 2005, growing at 4,000' elevation among large boulders on a rocky hill at the Ellington Farm in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. Planted in baking sun, Asparagus 'Ellington' has thrived in our garden since 2006. Unlike many of the larger species that we saw in South Africa, this asparagus fern made a short mound to only 18" tall x 3' wide. In early October, the slightly prickly green foliage is adorned with small, bright red fruit. Growing nearby in the wild were amazing 1,000-year-old specimens of the rare Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi. We think Asparagus sp. 'Ellington' has great garden potential, and we welcome suggestions as to a possible species identification.