Basket asparagus fern

• Fern with long, arching, prickly stems up to 2m long.
• Leaves are light green, slender.
• Flowers are small, creamy, clustered.
• Fruits are up to 8mm in diameter.
• Fruits ripen to bright red containing a single, black, round seed.
• Starch-bearing tubers are present, but do not regrow or reproduce.

• Prefers sand dunes, shallow-soiled headlands and rainforest understorey.

• Occurs along Queensland coast and hinterland.

• Germinates most of the year if moisture present.
• Usually flowers October–February.

Environmental

• Becomes dominant ground cover, displacing native plants, even in undisturbed systems.

• Spread by fruit-eating birds.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Physical control

• Remove berries, seeds and entire crown of underground stem with sharp knife to prevent regrowth.
• Follow up to control seedling germination and regrowth from missed tubers.

Herbicide control

• Herbicide control is effective.
• Use spot spray and cut-stump methods.

See the Asparagus ferns fact sheet (PDF, 1.5MB) for herbicide control and application rates.

Biological control

• No known biological control agent.

• Basket asparagus fern is a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with basket asparagus fern under your control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• At a local level, each local government must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on basket asparagus fern. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local government for more information.