If you drive along the Languedoc countryside in spring and early summer you can’t help but see Asphodelus everywhere. They are definitely a Mediterranean native and despite their frail appearance they are tough as nails in this hot and dry climate. Olivier Filippi gives them a 5 of 6 on his drought tolerance scale.
There are many different kinds of Asphodelus. So far I’ve managed to establish Asphodelus fistulosus in my garden as it’s quite willing to re-seed itself. I love its dainty flowers and stalks that bloom mostly from January to May – although I have one or two plants that were still flowering in December!
One day I may add Asphodelus ramosus/aestivus and Asphodelus albus for their bigger, more showy flowerheads and summer bloom.
Apshodelus fistulosus grows to about 50cm high and 30cm wide. It grows in full sun or half-shade and, like all Mediterranean natives, it likes a well-drained soil. It tolerates frost down to -20°C and doesn’t need any special treatment.
Asphodelus will reseed all over the garden, I love it for this reason as well. If you don’t want it to reseed, cut the stalks after the flowers are finished – this will also result in a new bloom. It’s also very easy to pull out any new unwanted plants.
Apparently Asphodelus fistulosus is also called onionweed and edible – I haven’t tried it yet.
Rust on Asphodelus – Puccinia Porri?
In October two or three Asphodelus plants developed what looked like the rust fungus I had seen in earlier years on wild leek I had planted in the garden. It was very unsightly and did not get better with time and I did not want to spray fungicide for a plant that is so prolific all over the garden – so I took out and disposed the affected plants.
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