In The Garden: They all look alike

Which of the following is this plant?

• Asparagus densiflorus
• Asparagus Aethiopicus
• Sprenger Asparagus 'Sprengeri'

 

What about Protasparagus densiflorus 'Meyeri' - Foxtail Fern.

 

You're supposed to be narrowing it, not broadening it! :-)

 

You could dig around in the soil. From Protasparagus densiflorus Plant Profile:

Asparagus has rhizomes, and Protasparagus does not.​

From the same source:

Foxtail fern (P. densiflorus cv. 'Myersii') has stiffly upright stems to 2' long, with very dense, cylindrical plume-like foliage, giving the plant a fluffy, cloud-like appearance. The stems are like bottle brushes, 2-3" in diameter, and tapering gradually to the tips.​

and

Emerald fern or emerald feather (P. densiflorus cv. 'Sprengeri') has arching and drooping foliage 3-4' long, with needlelike stems in dense clusters. It has an open, spreading appearance, and heavily scented flowers.​

I'm not seeing any drooping foliage. You'll have to determine whether there are rhizomes.

 

Protasparagus densiflorus is listed as a synonym of Asparagus densiflorus.

 

It has flowers, so it isn't a fern.

 

The common name for all these contains fern but they are not ferns.

 

I have never seen individual members standing or dense like this (I can't get the picture link to work.)

My wife says the plant has red berries some times.

Here are two wide views of the plant.

 

Absent other replies I will assume it is asparagus densiflorus 'sprengeri'

 

I thought it looked like stiff and upright stems, as in P. densiflorus cv. 'Myersii', not arching and drooping like 'Sprengeri'.
What about the "Asparagus has rhizomes, and Protasparagus does not."? That should be easy to find out.

 

But they are one and the same according to the botanical name.

 

OK. Asparagus densiflorus - Plant Finder (Missouri Botanical Garden) says about Sprenger's asparagus fern:

This plant is also sometimes listed as Protasparagus densiflorus because plants in the genus Asparagus (e.g., the edible vegetable A. officinalis) have rhizomes but this plant does not. Species plants are not as widely grown in gardens as are certain popular cultivars such as ‘Myersii’ (foxtail fern) and Sprengeri group (emerald fern).​

So I guess the floridata page was referring to the edible asparagus.

The ones here look halfway between fox-tail-like and droopy. The ones on this Meyersii search
Asparagus Meyeri - Bing images
look more uniformly foxtail-y. I think I'm coming to agree with i_am_jim on Sprengeri group.

 

OK. I've pulled some of it up and if these are rhizomes then it has them. As far as I'm concerned it cannot be Foxtail fern because it looks nothing like it

 

I've become confused by Junglekeepers quote that says
'Protasparagus densiflorus is a synonym of Asparagus densiflorus.'

 

It means Asparagus densiflorus is the plant's current name but it was at one time known as Protasparagus densiflorus.

I think your plant looks like Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'.

 

I think there is general agreement on Asparagus Fern -- asparagus densiflorus 'sprengeri'