*Asparagus officinalis Linnaeus. Common name: Asparagus, Sparrowgrass, Garden Asparagus. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Commonly cultivated, commonly escaped to fencerows, roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Eurasia.
Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, ETx1, F, FNA26, G, Il, K4, Meso6, Mi, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Ok, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3; > Asparagus officinalis L. ssp. officinalis — Dahlgren, Clifford, & Yeo (1985). Basionym: Asparagus officinalis L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Asparagus officinalis - FNA26
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© CK Kelly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK Kelly source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Asparagus officinalis? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Upright, often clonal perennial from rhizomes, seen along fencerows, on roadsides and in other disturbed areas. Native of Eurasia; commonly cultivated and escaped.
Stems: Stems stout, especially at base, somewhat angular, branching, grayish-green, smooth; secondary, ascending to spreading, slender stems arise over time.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, pressed close to stem and scale-like, triangular, light yellow to purple; along secondary stems and upper half of primary stem are whorls of 4-15 stemlets that resemble needle-like leaves.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary or in clusters of 2-3, nodding on drooping, thin stalks arising from axils of leaves; yellow or greenish-yellow, 3/4-1 in. long, bell-shaped, consisting of 6 tepals that are recurved or straight at the tip; some flowers female, some male, some perfect.
Fruits: Fruit a bright red, round, fleshy berry.
Comments:
Height: 2 1/2-6 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Upright, often clonal perennial from rhizomes, seen along fencerows, on roadsides and in other disturbed areas. Native of Eurasia; commonly cultivated and escaped.
stems: Stems stout, especially at base, somewhat angular, branching, grayish-green, smooth; secondary, ascending to spreading, slender stems arise over time.
leaves: Leaves alternate, pressed close to stem and scale-like, triangular, light yellow to purple; along secondary stems and upper half of primary stem are whorls of 4-15 stemlets that resemble needle-like leaves.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary or in clusters of 2-3, nodding on drooping, thin stalks arising from axils of leaves; yellow or greenish-yellow, 3/4-1 in. long, bell-shaped, consisting of 6 tepals that are recurved or straight at the tip; some flowers female, some male, some perfect.
fruits: Fruit a bright red, round, fleshy berry.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: Europe
0 unsaved edits on this page.