King's spear, Yellow asphodel
Asphodeline lutea

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

A perennial herb. It grows 90-120 cm high and 25-30 cm wide. The roots are fleshy. The leaves are grassy and green and occur on tall stems on whorls or rings. The flowers are yellow and starry. They occur in a spike. The fruit are seed pods that are round and green. These turn brown as they dry. They are 10-12 mm across.

There are 19 Asphodeline species. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.

Where it is found

It is frost hardy. In the Mediterranean it grows on rocky slopes and in hills and mountains. It is best in rich soils. It is resistant to drought. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Croatia, Europe, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Sicily, Slovenia, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

Caution: It should be cooked. The roots are roasted and eaten. They are eaten with salt and oil or mashed with figs. The flowering shoots are eaten. The young stems are eaten raw as a snack. The shoots are peeled and roasted.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, stems, shoots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division. They can also be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Baton de Jacob, Calcacavallo, Flower of the dead, Garufi, Jacob's rod, Otaat, Puddicinu, Rumeni čepljec, Zlatoglavica

Synonyms

Asphodelus luteus L.;