Asphodelus albus aka White Asphodel

Asphodelus albus, or white-flowered asphodel, belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. It is a herbaceous perennial: a soft-stemmed plant that lives for years. It grows wild in Mediterranean Europe, from Spain to the Balkans. Missouri Botanical Garden also lists north Africa, for the most part Libya. It grows in fields, rough ground, dry hills, and mountain meadows. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant forms a dense clump above thick, fleshy roots. Garden height ranges from about 1.6–4 feet [0.5–1.22 metres]. RHS gives a lower top height than Missouri Botanical Garden. Those sources give a spread of about 1.6–2.5 feet [0.5–0.76 metres]. Long, narrow leaves grow from the base of the plant. They are blue-green and a bit fleshy, with a ridge beneath. Leaves can reach 2.5 feet [0.76 metres] in length. They die back in summer once the flowers fade.

Bare stems bear white flowers with fine pink veins. The flower groups may branch or stay on one stem. Each bloom has six long tepals, which look like petals. These give the bloom its star-like shape. Flowers reach about 0.13 feet [0.04 metres] across. They bloom from April to June, though dates vary by place. The seedheads add interest once the flowers have gone. Gardeners may leave them in place or cut the spent stems.

Grow this plant in full sun for the best show. It also copes with some shade. Choose light soil rich in humus, with mid-range nutrient levels. The soil must drain well. It accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. RHS lists chalk, loam, and sand as soils that suit it. Heavy soil that holds water can cause dieback. Give it a fair amount of water. Once settled, plants can cope with some drought. Hot, damp summers in the deep South do not suit it well. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 6–8; RHS rates it H4. RHS says it takes two to five years to reach full size.

Use it in sunny beds, borders, gravel gardens, or near house walls. It also suits banks, slopes, and gardens with a Mediterranean style. RHS and Missouri Botanical Garden report few pest or disease problems. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Split plants once they finish flowering. PFAF notes past food use of roots but warns against eating them. The roots contain asphodeline, and PFAF calls them poisonous. It also notes past use of tubers for skin and cough treatments. These uses do not show that home treatment is safe. People have also made alcohol from fermented roots.