Foxtail ferns

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by codyb89, Apr 15, 2008.

  1. codyb89

    codyb89 Active Member

    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    texarkana, texas united states
    I think that these are foxtail ferns definitely look like asparagus ferns.. Anyways, what i was wondering was would they be better off in the ground or in pots? I am in zone 8

    Thanx - cody
     
  2. edleigh7

    edleigh7 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,769
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Brisbane Queensland Australia
    Cody, they can be reasonably hard to eradicate in the ground, but I can only speak from a sub tropical perspective, you may be OK where you are

    Ed
     
  3. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,058
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Not horsetails?

    Is there a photo somewhere that we're discussing?
     
  4. codyb89

    codyb89 Active Member

    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    texarkana, texas united states
    heres a pic of both of them
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    They look like Asparagus. Definitely not a fern of any sort.
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Does look like foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii'). Try searching "asparagus meyersii" for multiple online references including hardiness information.
     
  7. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    Asparagus is a flowering plant, not a fern!
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Alternative spellings include 'Myers'.
     
  9. edleigh7

    edleigh7 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,769
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Brisbane Queensland Australia
    Its just another common name that eludes to something that it isn't...

    Ed
     
  10. codyb89

    codyb89 Active Member

    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    texarkana, texas united states
    anyways my question was would they be better in the ground or in pots? i wanna put them in the ground but ionno
     
  11. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
  12. edleigh7

    edleigh7 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,769
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Brisbane Queensland Australia
    Ron whats the problem with "eludes" spelling??
    Or do you mean the grammar??
     
  13. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,526
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Victoria Australia [cool temperate]
    I have mine in a large wine barrel type tub. [outside all year] It has been there for many years. I am a little reluctant to let it loose as asparagus ferns that are the other indoor plant (common name) have a tendancy to nick off here and become a weed. The same thing may happen where you are.

    Liz
     
  14. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,058
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    You spelled "elude" correctly but used the wrong word - you wanted "allude". It wasn't spelling or grammar that "eluded" you but vocabulary :-)

    Sorry to veer off-topic again! Carry on!
     
  15. edleigh7

    edleigh7 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,769
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Brisbane Queensland Australia
    Okaaaaaaay.

    I agree with Liz, keep them in a pot.

    Ed
     
  16. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,455
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Siloam Springs, AR, USA
    I do my best to kill them in my atrium, but they refuse to die. People call this a fern but as Michael correctly pointed out it has no scientific relation to any fern.
     
  17. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Common names have no relation to science.
     
  18. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,455
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Siloam Springs, AR, USA
    Certainly seems so. Still, when someone asks, I will give the science over the common information any day. Seems strange to me to call something a fern that is not a fern. If you choose otherwise, please feel free. Its a very big world with room for both.
     
  19. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    Common names can so easily be made to have a relation to science. To continue to promote the use of confusing names that state something is what it is not, is very unhelpful and anti-educational. It doesn't help anyone understand plant relationships at all, only promotes ignorance.
     
  20. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    News bulletin: world is full of people using common plant names who don't care about botany.
     
  21. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,455
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Siloam Springs, AR, USA
    This forum is also filled with people that ask for the correct name every single day. To each his own.
     
  22. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    There are no correct common names. What confuses (and irritates) is when non-botanists are told they shouldn't call their Thuja plicata a cedar tree when they post asking why its leaves are turning red, or that their foxtail fern isn't a fern when what they want to know is how they might use it in their garden.

    Try lecturing everyone you meet about botanical aptness of common names you hear them using and see how much it does to change common name usage on a global level.
     
  23. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,455
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Siloam Springs, AR, USA
    You win Ron. I'm not sure why you don't like us to use correct names, but you win. This forum is after all run by a botanical garden and I believe a couple of botanists run the forum.
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2008
  24. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    What I'm interested in is factual reality, and the factual reality is that common names and botanical names are two different occurrences. Botanical (and other scientific) names were invented to provide an alternative to common names and have been doing the job for a long time. There is no need to attempt to "botanize" common names, and such attempts are futile anyway.
     
  25. codyb89

    codyb89 Active Member

    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    texarkana, texas united states
    i am sorry guys i was just askin what i shoul do with the plants i have i didnt mean for all this to happen :( so they are better in a big pots? Because i don't want it to spread and be a weed. Again i didn't mean to start a big argument i just wanted to know what to do with my plant.
     

Share This Page