Asparagus cochinchinensis aka Chinese Asparagus

Asparagus cochinchinensis is also known as Chinese asparagus. It is part of the asparagus family. This plant lives for years and can climb. It grows from a rootstock with thick storage roots called tubers. Its native range covers Japan, China, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia. It also includes Taiwan and the northern Philippines. In Japan, it grows near the coast. In China, it grows on slopes with sparse woods. It also grows on roadsides and waste ground there. These sites range from sea level to 5,577 feet [1,700 metres].

Garden plants reach about 5 feet [1.5 metres] tall. They spread about 3.3 feet [1 metre] wide. Another account gives stem lengths of 3.3–6.6 feet [1–2 metres]. These lengths refer to climbing stems, not greater garden height. The tubers grow below ground and store starch, sugars, and mucilage. People grow this species for its looks in garden beds. They also gather wild plants for food and traditional medicine.

Flowers bloom from May to June, and bees pollinate them. Each plant bears either male or female flowers. A plant cannot form seeds with its own pollen. Grow both sexes to get fruit and seed. Seeds ripen in September. Each fruit is about a quarter-inch across. Sources do not agree on whether the fruit is safe to eat. One calls it fit to eat. Another warns that the berries can cause harm.

Chinese asparagus grows in a range of garden soils. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, but needs good drainage. Rich, light sandy loam suits it best. It prefers moist soil and a sunny site. It also grows in light shade. It accepts soils that are mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA zones 6–9. Other reports give winter lows that sometimes reach −10 to −15°C. Reports differ on how well it lives through British winters.

People cook the tubers for food after careful prep. They wash out the bitter taste and remove the tough inner core. They then boil the roots or preserve them in sugar. Traditional Chinese medicine has used the roots for over 2,000 years. Reported uses include treating coughs, sore throats, and fever. These records show past use, not proof that treatment is safe. Sources also report use to kill fly and mosquito larvae. Grow new plants from seed or by division in early spring. Keep young seedlings in a greenhouse for their first winter.