The Asparagus genus, of the family Asparagaceae with up to 300 species native from Siberia to southern Africa, is best known for the garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), cultivated as a vegetable for its succulent spring stalks. Several African species are grown as ornamental plants.

Asparagus densiflorus is an extremely versatile perennial, evergreen plant that can be used as a groundcover or container plant in full sun or light shade. Although there are many striking and beautiful South African Asparagus species, most of them have horrendously large or sharp spines. Asparagus densiflorus has only very small, hardly noticeable spines and is an excellent garden plant. Asparagus densiflorus ‘Mazeppa’ is excellent as a groundcover, especially in full sun. ‘Mazeppa’ forms a very compact dark green mat and looks very attractive in containers as well as on sloping garden walls. When grown in shade they become long-stemmed with a wide distribution of the leaves. When grown in full sun, the plants become much more sturdy and dense.