White Asparagus, Garden-hedge
Asparagus albus
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 10-30. They are 5-25 mm long and have spines at their tips. They fall off to leave bare spiny stems. The flowers are in groups of 2-4. They are 3-4 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 hedgerows and scrub.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, Australia, Europe, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, Sicily, Spain
How it is used for food
It is used as a vegetable. The young shoots are cooked. They are stewed or used in omelettes.
Edible parts
Shoots, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Azzou, Esparrago blanco, Hmissou, Sekoum, Sparaciu jancu, Sparaciu spinosu