Asparagus horridus aka Wild Asparagus

Asparagus horridus is a shrub in the asparagus family. The family's name is Asparagaceae. Kew gives it a broad native range. It spans the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula. Kew calls its climate subtropical. The RHS treats this name as a synonym of Asparagus stipularis. Its profile calls the plant giant asparagus. The RHS says it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants for a Future calls this plant a perennial. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows wild on dry ground and in vineyards. The account gives no full-grown height or spread. The sources give no bark or leaf details for this species. The RHS describes stems, leaf-like growth and berries for the genus. These facts do not show this species' exact form. Nor do they tell us its fruit colour.

Plants for a Future says it flowers from July to August. Each plant has male or female flowers, not both. A lone plant cannot fertilise itself. Grow both sexes if you need seed. The source also says the flowers have a sweet scent. That claim, though, comes within broader notes on growing plants. It lists this plant for scented gardens and garden beds. The sources do not say what pollinates this species.

The species account calls for sun and soil that drains well. It lists sand, loam and clay as suitable soils. The soil can be slightly acid, neutral or slightly alkaline. It may be dry or moist. These needs fit the dry ground where it grows wild. The source is not sure how much British cold it withstands. It suggests mild parts of Britain may suit the plant. This is a tentative view, not a tested hardiness rating.

Plants for a Future lists young shoots and stems as edible. It gives the plant a low score for food use. It suggests cooking shoots like garden asparagus, but does not confirm this. The source lists no known hazards, but that does not prove safety. It lists no known uses as medicine or for other needs. It also marks the plant as having no weed potential. The sources give no pest or disease details for this species. They give no firm basis for judging how fast it grows. Nor do they show its full-grown size in gardens.