Scientific Name
Asphodelus aestivus Brot.
Common Name(s)
Summer Asphodel, Common Asphodel, Tall Asphodel, Silver Rod
Synonym(s)
Asphodelus microcarpus var. aestivus
Scientific Classification
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Asphodelus
Origin
Asphodelus aestivus is native to dry slopes, pastures, pine forests, and mountainous regions of the Canary Islands and North Africa east across southern Europe and southwest Asia to Iran.
Flower
Color: White with brown mid-stripes
Bloom Time: Late spring
Description
Asphodelus aestivus is an attractive perennial with gray-green, sword-like leaves up to 18 inches (45 cm) long and spikes of white star-like flowers that rise above the foliage in late spring to an overall height of 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm). The flowers are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across and have thin brown mid-stripes on the petals. They first open at the bottom of the spike and proceed upward to the top over several weeks.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 7a to 10b: from 0 °F (−17.8 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Grow Asphodels in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. They do not tolerate heavy, poorly drained soil. Irrigate occasionally to very little in coastal gardens. They are considered hardy to USDA zone 6 and tolerate temperatures down to 14ºF (-10ºC). Great as a border or accent plant.
Propagate Asphodels by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, or propagate by division after flowering. Although you can cut back flower stems after flowering, the seed heads are attractive so that they can be left.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Asphodels.
Links
- Back to genus Asphodelus
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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