Seasonal Wild Flowers

Garden Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis subsp. officinalis

Liliaceae

June to August

It is scattered throughout the country, but is more common

in the East and South.

See the BSBI distribution map for Garden Asparagus

It is a naturalised escape found on sandy soils, such as

dunes and heaths.

It is an archaeophyte, probably introduced by the

Romans.

It may be on the increase.

Garden Asparagus is a wiry, frondy, blue-tinged,

fern-like, perennial herb, growing up to 1.5m.

Flowers are up to 1cm long and pale yellow.

Male and female flowers are on different plants

(dioecious).

Leaves are fleshy and needle-like.

The native Wild Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis

subsp. Prostrates, grows in Cornwall. Female

plants have grown on the Isle of Portland, Dorset,

for some years, and in 2013, the Dorset Wild Life

Trust introduced male flowers from Cornwall.

Garden Asparagus, Dawlish Warren,

Devon

Close-up of flowers - front view

Side view

Leaves and immature berries

Mature berries

Fronds of needle-like leaves