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Asphodelus aestivus - Brot.

Common Name
Family Asphodelaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky places, hills, dry places[89] and on poor uncultivated ground[42].
Range S. Europe. N. Africa. W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Asphodelus aestivus


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Asphodelus aestivus
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lumbar

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Asphodelus aestivus is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. microcarpus. A. ramosus.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root  Seed  Stem
Edible Uses:

Tuber - cooked[4]. Rich in starch[89, 177]. Dried and boiled in water it yields a mucilaginous matter which can be mixed with grain to make a nutritious bread[4, 105]. Boiling destroys the acrid principle in the tubers[4], rendering them quite pleasant to eat[K]. Flowering stalk - cooked[89, 148]. Seed - roasted[89, 148].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Acrid  Antispasmodic  Diuretic  Emmenagogue

The root, gathered at the end of its first year, is acrid, antispasmodic, diuretic, emmenagogue[4]. It was used in the treatment of several diseases by the Greeks and Romans, but is not employed in modern medicine[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

Adhesive  Dye

The dried tuber is pulverized and mixed with cold water to make a strong glue[4] that is used by bookmakers and shoemakers[61, 89, 148]. A yellow dye is obtained from the tuber[46, 61].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, tolerating partial shade[200]. Requires a well-drained soil[1, 200]. Prefers a deep rich sandy loamy soil[1, 111]. Prefers a sunny position and a soil that is not too rich[200]. Grows well on hot dry banks[42]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Plants are evergreen in mild winters[200]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. This species is closely related to A. ramosus[187].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. When the plants are large enough to handle, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division in early spring or autumn[111].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey EUROPE: Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain (incl. Baleares), France (s. & Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Algeria (north), Egypt, Libya (north), Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Asphodelus albusAsphodel, Gamón-blancoPerennial1.0 5-9  LMSNDM212
Asphodelus fistulosusOnionweedAnnual/Perennial0.6 7-10  LMSNDM210
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelusYellow Day LilyPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM422

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Brot.

Botanical References

89200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Tue Dec 28 01:18:42 2004

This plant is found in Malta/Mediterranean basin/Europe

More comprehensive details, medicinal properties, uses, botanical data, plant description and photogallery of high resolutions photos of this plant can be seen on an interesting website about the wild plants of Malta: www.maltawildplants.com

Link: Malta Wild Plants Website and photography by Stephen Mifsud, Malta

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Subject : Asphodelus aestivus  
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