Asparagus umbellatus - Lace Fern

This houseplant is striking thanks to its delicate, almost feathery texture. It loves moisture, and above-average humidity helps its lush green fronds stay fluffy. This fern grows tall on multiple stems, each one ending in branches or narrow leaves, and abundance of which makes this plant super soft, bushy and vibrant. Add this incredible texture to your houseplant collection and it will really level up your sideboard.

Scientific Name
Asparagus umbellatus (asparagus bearing umbels, bunches or stems growing from the same spot)

Synonyms
Asparagopsis umbellata, Asparagus scaber

The scientific name of this plant was first published in 1828

Common Name(s)
Lace Fern, Umbrella Asparagus, Climbing Asparagus

Origin
This plant is native to the subtropical Canary Islands and Madeira, off the Northwest coast of Africa.

Light
Prefers bright, indirect light and can tolerate a little shade. Avoid harsh, direct sunlight, which can scorch its delicate foliage.

Water
Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season (spring to autumn). Allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly between waters. In winter, reduce watering, letting the soil dry out a bit more in between.

Humidity
Your Lace Fern will prefer moderate to high humidity, so if it's in a drier spot, a pebble tray can help increase local humidity levels. Bathrooms or kitchens can also be good spots for these plants as they tend to be slightly damper.

Soil
Plant in well-draining soil; a mix designed for ferns, with added sand, coir and perlite will be a good environment for this plant. Repot every couple of years as the plant grows.

Food
Feed every four waters in the growing system, reduce in autumn and winter to every six waters.

Temperature
Ideal temperatures are between 18-26°C. Avoid exposure to cold drafts and temperatures below 12°C.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic when eaten. Best kept out of reach of pets and small children.

Sprouts Top Tips
Yellow leaves / needles are a sign of too much light and/or too little water. If they are also going brown, this signals too little moisture in the air, so a humidity tray would be a good idea.
If the stems have got very damaged, are looking very leggy, or have lost a lot of foliage, they will be best able to grow back if you give them a hard prune down to an inch above the soil. This will help them grow back much more bushy, as lost foliage won't be replaced on the same stems.