*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, (basionym); > Asparagus officinalis L. ssp. officinalis — Dahlgren, Clifford, & Yeo (1985)
Links to other floras: = Asparagus officinalis - FNA26
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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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