Asparagus aphyllus aka Mediterranean Asparagus

Asparagus aphyllus belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It is a perennial: it lives for more than one year. It does not die after just one season. Its native range spans the Mediterranean. It reaches the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Kew places it in a subtropical climate zone. Plants For A Future lists southern Europe and North Africa. It also lists parts of Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. The RHS states it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This plant grows to about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. In the wild, it grows in hedges and on rocky limestone hills. Plants For A Future also lists garden beds as a setting. The supplied records for this species give no width. They give no details of its bark, leaves, or stem form.

Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Bees pollinate the flowers by moving pollen between them. The plant cannot fertilise itself. Gardeners need both sexes for plants to set seed. The evidence does not say when this species blooms. It gives no flower colour for the species. It does not describe the fruit. People use young shoots and stems as food. They eat the shoots raw or cooked. The shoots have a somewhat bitter taste.

Plants For A Future lists sun or part shade as suitable. It says the plant tolerates sand, loam, and clay soils. These soils must drain well. Soil can range from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Dry or moist soil can suit it. But the source bases its growing notes on the genus as a whole. Use these notes as a starting point. They are not a firm guide for this species. It is not clear if it can survive British winters. The supplied evidence gives no tested hardiness zone.

To grow from seed, Plants For A Future suggests a warm-water soak. Soak seeds for twelve hours. Sow in a greenhouse in spring. You can also sow when seed ripens in early autumn. The source gives three to six weeks for seeds to sprout at 25°C. Move seedlings to their own pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a sunny greenhouse through their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. You can also divide plants as spring growth starts. The source lists no known uses as medicine, other uses, or hazards. That hazard entry does not prove safety for people or pets.