Evan-Amos · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
The common garden asparagus, *Asparagus officinalis*, is a perennial flowering plant widely cultivated globally as a highly prized spring vegetable. It is notable for its distinct, spear-like shoots, which are consumed when young and tender, and its historical significance in culinary traditions.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is herbaceous and perennial, growing typically to 100–150 centimetres tall, with stout stems and feathery foliage. The 'leaves' are needle-like cladodes, measuring 6–32 millimetres long and 1 mm broad, clustered in fours. Flowers are bell-shaped, greenish-white to yellowish, 4.5–6.5 mm long, and the fruit is a small red berry 6–10 mm in diameter.
Distribution & habitat
Native to most of Europe and western temperate Asia. Populations grown natively to the western coasts of Europe are treated as a subspecies group.
Cultivation notes
Asparagus thrives in soils that are too saline for normal weeds to grow, and is often grown in maritime or Mediterranean environments. 'Crowns' are planted in winter, with the first shoots appearing in spring. Purple asparagus was originally developed in Italy near Albenga.
History & etymology
The English word asparagus derives from classical Latin, and the plant was once known as sperage. The name traces back to Ancient Greek terms, though the provenance is uncertain.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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