Scientific Name
Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl.
Synonym(s)
Asphodelus macrocarpus subsp. macrocarpus, Asphodelus ozanonis, Asphodelus villarsii
Scientific Classification
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Asphodelus
Origin
Asphodelus macrocarpus is native to most of the Alps and the Apennines. It is commonly found in meadows, uncultivated fields, and Mediterranean mountain pastures at 980 to 5,910 feet (300 to 1,800 m) above sea level.
Flower
Color: White with brown mid stripes
Bloom Time: Late April through June
Description
Asphodelus macrocarpus is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. The stem is erect, plain, cylindrical, and glabrous. All the leaves are basal, gutter-shaped, and covered by a grayish-waxy coating. They are up to 40 inches (1 m) long and 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide.
The terminal raceme is almost cylindrical and up to 14 inches (35 cm) long. The flowers are hermaphroditic, funnel-shaped, with six elongated white petals, and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter. The stamens have a white filament. Anthers are oval and yellow-orange. The flowering period extends from late April through June.
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. Do not tolerate heavy, poorly-drained soil. Irrigate occasionally to very little in coastal gardens. It is considered hardy to USDA zone 6. It tolerates temperature 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 seedheads 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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