Grey asparagus
Asparagus horridus

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A tall plant. It can be 2 m tall. The stems are woody and have many branches. They are whitish or grey. The flattened green stems occur singly or in groups of 2-6. They are 3.5-4 mm long and have spines at their tips. Plants are separately male or female. The flowers are in groups of 2-6. They are 3.5-4 mm long. They are yellowish green. They have a sweet scent. The flowers are mixed with the leaves. The fruit is a berry which is black when ripe. It is 5.5-8 mm across.

There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in rocky or sandy places often close to the sea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Spain

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked and eaten in omelettes. They are also used for pickles.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It is best to pre-soak the seeds in warm water.

Its other names

Local names

Ayrelli, Azzou, Sparaciu marinu, Sparacogna sarvaggia

Synonyms

Asparagus stipularis Forssk.; and others