The Main Plant entry for Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Asparagus.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Life cycle: Perennial
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Uses: Vegetable
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Salt tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Pollinators: Bees

Image
Matching plants under this entry
  • Asparagus officinalis
  • Asparagus officinalis subsp. officinalis
  • Asparagus littoralis

Photo Gallery

Date: c. 1903
illustration from 'Prof. Dr. Thome's Flora von Deutschland, Oster
Location: My Gardens
Date: May 2, 2014
Freshly Cut From The Garden
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas -- Bad Internet right now; If in wrong place, feel free to comment. Photos might jump sometimes
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: At home
Date: 2022-06-19
Location: At home
Location: City Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date: 2017-05-18
Wild plant escaped from cultivation.
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-11-26

Date: October
photo by H. Zell

Date: July
photo by H. Zell
Photo by PoppyLady420
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-14
In the wild
Location: My Gardens
Date: May 2, 2014
Two New Spears & One Ready For Harvest
Photo by sedumzz
Location: At home
Location: At home
Date: 2022-06-19
Beetle: Crioceris asparagi
Location: At home
Date: 2022-06-19
Beetle larvae: Crioceris asparagi
Location: At home
Date: 2022-06-19
Beetle: Harmonia axyridusforma succinea
Location: My garden
Date: 2017-07-09
Location: My Home
Date: May 2, 2014
Washed And Cut Into Bite-Size Pieces

Date: August
credit: Rasbak

credit: Rasbak
Photo by susandonb
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-08-20
In the wild
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-11-26
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-11-26
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-11-26
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 21, 2013 11:18 PM concerning plant:
    "Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennial plant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and asparagus in the Asparagaceae. Asparagus officinalis is native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, and is widely cultivated as a vegetable crop.

    Only young asparagus shoots are commonly eaten: once the buds start to open ("ferning out"), the shoots quickly turn woody.

    Water makes up 93% of Asparagus's composition. Asparagus is low in calories and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, as the asparagus plant is relatively rich in this compound.

    Asparagus is a useful companion plant for tomatoes. The tomato plant repels the asparagus beetle, as do several other common companion plants of tomatoes. Meanwhile, asparagus may repel some harmful root nematodes that affect tomato plants."

    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Oct 3, 2011 3:04 PM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get nectar from this plant
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On February 7, 2017 Transplanted
only 3 roots to HW
christine2 On May 26, 2020 Obtained plant
OV10 Potbound
jaamkie On April 27, 2021 Harvested
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