Wild Asparagus

Asparagus capensis

Scientific name

Asparagus capensis is a dense, thorny, shrub of the Asparagus genus, that is indigenous to South Africa and Namibia.

This species of asparagus grows as a thorny bush, to a height of 1 metre. The leaves are small and spiny and the tiny, white, scented flowers appear from autumn to spring.

Its natural range is throughout the Cape, from Namibia southwards to Cape Town and eastwards to the Eastern Cape.

Like many other Asparagus species, the young shoots of this plant are edible, and are were eaten historically.

Information sourced from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus_capensis) and 'Field Guide to Fynbos' by John Manning. Struik Nature, Cape Town, 2007.