Asparagus species are diverse: herbaceous plants, shrubs and dwarf shrubs, lianas. Asparagus in Greek means "young growth". Man has long learned to use this plant for the benefit of himself. The oldest image of asparagus (3 thousand BC) was found in Egypt, and the ancient Roman author-cook Apitsius in his treatises praised the taste qualities of asparagus (the widespread name asparagus - "asparagus" came to us from Italian). The asparagus family includes more than 300 species, which vary greatly among themselves.
The appearance of asparagus is a bit unusual:
- the aerial part includes fillocladii / cladodes (stems), on them are triangular leaf-scales (in some species, thorns);
- the underground part is bulbs and roots.
Did you know?Asparaguses can quickly adapt to new biocenoses and actively spread (birds spread their seeds). The asparaguses taken from South Africa miraculously settled down in Australia and America and were recognized as harmful weeds, they are being fought.
Asparagus vulgaris (Asparagus officinalis)
This perennial herb is often called asparagus medicinal or pharmacy. Asparagus vulgaris grows smooth and straight stems (height from 30 to 150 cm). Phylloclades are thin, oblique and directed upwards (from 1 to 3 cm long), growing in bunches (from 3 to 6). Scaly leaves with spurs. Flowers - white and yellow, single or paired (blooms in June). Berries - red. Pharmacy asparagus grown for its shoots (table varieties) - cut about 20 cm from the top. If the plant cover from the sun, the shoots will be white, if grown in the sun - green. 
Important! Sulfur compounds in asparagus sprouts can change the smell of a human body (like garlic or onion).
White shoots have more vitamins (B1, B2, asparagine, minerals). In green - more chlorophyll, and they taste more pleasant. Asparagus asparagus is low in calories, it has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels (lowers cholesterol in the blood), skin, eyesight, nervous system, has anti-cancer and antibacterial properties.
Did you know? To save more vitamins in asparagus, you need to boil the shoots with tips up.
Asparagus asparagus (Asparagus asparagoides)
Asparagus asparagus (there is another name for asparagus - asparagus) was first described in 1753 by C. Linna. Initially grew in the south and east of the African continent.
Creeper plant has bare stems, flexible thin shoots of a light green color. Can grow to 1.7 m tall. Its phylloclades are interesting, they resemble leaves - lanceolate, bright green in color with glitter (width 2 cm, length 4 cm). It blossoms in small white and milky flowers with an orange smell. Berries - bright orange.
This type of asparagus can not tolerate low temperatures (12 degrees Celsius - already low), does not like prolonged heat.
Important! Asparagus prefer weak acid soils (pH 5.5-7.0). Mix combinations of mixtures favorable for asparagus growth: humus, sand, sheet soil (1x0.5x1); turf, leaf soil, humus, sand (2x2x2x1).
Asparagus racemate (Asparagus racemosus)
The semi-shrub plant has climbing stems (can reach 2 m), the phylloclades grow in bunches. Blooms bright pink flowers (buds, buds, hence the official name). Flowers have a delicate aroma. Berries - scarlet.
The homeland of asparagus is Acid - South Asia (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka). Loves to grow in rocky conditions. Here it is called satavar (shatavari) - "the healer of one hundred diseases." Because of the mass production in the wild state almost never occurs. Europeans discovered in 1799
Important! Asparaguses do not like dried land and stagnant moisture. Watering should be abundant, and spraying - at any time of the year.
Asparagus feathery (Asparagus plumosus)
A low shrub has curved, strongly branched stems, needle-like side shoots (15 mm, diameter - 0.5 mm), grow in bunches (from 3 to 12). The flowers are white (they do not bloom at room content), the berries are blue-black. The plant is originally from South Africa. 
Asparagus Cirrus:
- does not tolerate direct sunlight - stained brown;
- requires frequent watering and spraying (at temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius);
- The best soil for him is a mixture of peat and sand.
Asparagus feathery is very popular because of its decorativeness, compliance to molding (especially in China and Japan for the manufacture of bonsai).
Asparagus Meyer (Asparagus meyeri)
Under natural conditions found in South Africa and Mozambique. The first feature of this type of shrub is candle-like straight (up to 60 cm long) branches that grow from one center. Another peculiarity is that thin and soft light green phylloclades grow densely and exfoliate the branches in such a way that they resemble the shaggy tails of foxes. Therefore, his name is also foxtail fern.
Asparagus Meier blooms in summer. Asparagus flowers are small, white and with a pleasant aroma. Fruiting bright red berries.
In the spring requires transplantation, as quickly mastered the volume of soil. Does not like pruning and does not tolerate insecticides.
Did you know? The main enemies of asparagus are garden pests - scab, spider mite and thrips.
Asparagus medeolovidny (Asparagus medeoloides)
Comes from South Africa, the Australian continent became the second homeland (here is the local name - wedding liana. Asparagus leaves (phylloclades), interlacing with long and thin shoots, form a patterned canopy). It is grown as an ampelous plant. It blossoms with small white flowers, bears fruits with bright orange berries.
Popular when decorating bouquets (after cutting branches can stand without water and not wilt for a long time). When grown, it needs free space (it can reach 1.5 m tall).
Important! Asparagus berries are poisonous; if they are present on the plant, it is necessary to restrict access to it by children and domestic animals. When extracting seed seeds need to use gloves.
Asparagus finest (Asparagus benuissimus)
The description of the thinnest asparagus is practically the same as the cirrus asparagus, except for:
- longer and rare phylloclades;
- shoot lengths can grow up to 1.5 m.
Blooming in summer, in small white flowers. Berries are black.
Crescent Asparagus (Asparagus falcatus)
Comes from South Africa. It is a liana (in nature it can reach 15 m) of a dark green color. The name is given because of the form of phylloclades - in the form of a sickle (length up to 8 cm). Blooms loose buds of white small fragrant flowers (from 5 to 7).
Asparagus sickle has a high growth rate (grows well in shady places).
Did you know? Crescent Asparagus is the largest member of the family. In South Africa, the local aborigines planted their land, pens for livestock with this kind of asparagus, and made a hedge of shoots and thorns.
Asparagus Sprenger (Asparagus sprengeri)
This is the most common asparagus among flower growers. The name of the plant was in honor of Karl Sprenger, the discoverer of many South African species of asparagus and the tireless popularizer of their cultivation. Another name is asparagus densely flowered. Twice a year it effectively and abundantly blooms with small flowers of white-pink color. 
The semi-shrub has a falling shoots (from 1.3 to 1.8 m) of light green color, oval phylloclades in bunches (from 3 to 4), small spikes.
Pruning this type of asparagus is not recommended - growth will stop. Does not tolerate low temperatures (below 15 degrees Celsius). The only asparagus that loves direct sunlight.
Did you know? The growth of asparagus is subject to rhythm. At the first or the initial stage, everything happens underground, all components of the shoot are born in the kidney. In the second, an escape grows, and only in the third stage new organs appear on the escape. If the shoot is cut, the plant will start the process again from the beginning - with the formation of a bud below the ground.
