Ming asparagus fern (Asparagus macowanii)

Also known as: pompom asparagus, zig-zag asparagus

Ming asparagus fern is a spiny shrub with clusters of white flowers and dark reddish purple to black berries. It competes with native ground covers and understorey plants.

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How does this weed affect you?

Ming asparagus fern:

• competes with native ground cover and understorey plants
• smothers other vegetation
• prevents other species from germinating and establishing
• can grow into very large, dense infestations.

What does it look like?

Ming asparagus fern is a shrub with erect stems that usually grow 1–2.5 m tall, but can grow to 3 m tall.

Leaf-like cladodes

Asparagus plants have modified stems called cladodes that look like leaves. The actual leaves are reduced to tiny scales. The cladodes are:

• thread-like
• usually 8 – 15 mm long and up to 0.5 mm wide
• often slightly curved
• in clusters of 20–30, which are often dense
• present year-round
• turn yellow if the temperature is over 35°C.

Flowers are:

• white to cream with 6 petals (each 3 mm long)
• on short stalks about 5 mm long
• in dense clusters
• fragrant
• abundant for a short period in spring or summer.

Fruit are:

• round to oval berries containing 1 or 2 seeds
• 7–10 mm in diameter
• green when young, purple to pinkish-red,  then dark reddish purple or black when mature.

Seeds are:

• round
• black
• 4-6 mm in diameter.

Stems are:

• pale grey to whitish when older
• spiny
• up to 2.5 cm in diameter.

Spines are:

• zigzagged
• short
• curved backwards
• present on lower stems.

Roots are:

• a central underground crow
• fibrous or fleshy
• tuberous.

Similar looking plants

You can tell ming asparagus fern from the other asparagus weeds by its flowers. Ming asparagus fern has dense clusters of flowers. All other Asparagus weeds except sicklethorn (Asparagus falcatus) have flowers in groups of less than 8. Sicklethorn is a climber not a shrub and its cladodes are 3 – 6 mm wide.

Where is it found?

In NSW, ming asparagus fern grows in the North Coast, Hunter, Greater Sydney and South East regions. 

It is native to south-eastern Africa. It was introduced into Australia as an ornamental plant and was first recorded naturalised in 2001 near Brisbane.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Ming asparagus fern grows in warm humid climates and prefers semi-shaded areas.

It mostly grows in the understorey of drier forests. It could invade a wide range of coastal and sub-coastal plant communities. Potential habitats include riparian areas, forest margins, open woodlands, urban bushland, coastal areas, roadsides, disturbed sites and waste areas.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Ming asparagus fern during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seed

Most new plants grow from seed. Birds and other animals eat the fruit and spread the seed. Seed can also spread in water and dumped garden waste.

By plant parts

Established plants spread vegetatively from the roots. Most spread to new locations by plant parts is from people dumping garden waste.

References

Liu, F., Peng, S., & Liu, L. (2012). Study on Biological Characters of Asparagus macowanii Baker. Agricultural Science & Technology, 13(11), 2351.

Office of Environment and Heritage (2013). Asparagus weeds management manual: current management and control options for asparagus weeds (Asparagus spp.) in Australia. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 25 September from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgiin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Asparagus~macowanii

More information

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Control

Successful weed control requires follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Physical control

By hand

Hand weed seedlings in small-to-medium infestations. Try to remove the entire root system.

Slashing

Slashing can drain the plant of energy, limit fruit and seed production and slow growth but will not kill plants. Slashing should be combined with other control methods for effective, long-term control.

Disposal

Ming asparagus fern may be composted but compost material should not contain any fruit. Regular turning and covering the plants in black plastic can help the compost process. Check for any regrowth from crowns and spot spray the new foliage.

Contact your local council for further advice on disposal.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray plants when they are actively growing. Follow-up may be needed because the thin cladodes provide little surface area for herbicide uptake.

Cut stump method

If asparagus fern is growing close to desirable plants, then the cut stump method reduces the risk of herbicides damaging other plants. Cut stems and apply herbicide to the part still attached to the ground within 15 seconds of cutting.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 20 mL per 1 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate in 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump / scrape stem application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10-20 g in 100 L of water, plus non-ionic surfactant 100 mL per 100 L of spray volume
Comments: Spot spray application
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Rhizome application: prune the shoots to get access to the rhizome apply a 3-5 mm layer of gel across the cut surface on the rhizome. See label for further critical comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Greater Sydney	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
South East	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025