Family: Asparagaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows and naturalized in regions with tropical climates.
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii and elsewhere in the world.
  
• An environmental weed that forms extensive and dense colonies displacing native understory and ground-cover species; Overtops shrubs and young trees.
  
• Other Asparagus species are invasive.
  
• Spiny stems.
  
• Low toxicity if eaten; sap may cause skin irritation, redness, swelling and blisters.
  
• Shade tolerant.
  
• Tolerates many soil types.
  
• Forms dense colonies and can overtop and smother other species.
  
• A geophyte capable of regenerating from tuberous roots.
  
• Reproduces by bird-dispersed seeds.
  
• May be spread in dumped garden waste.
  
• Reported to be self-compatible.
  
• Able to resprout from tuberous roots after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to goats (but may be deer resistant)