White asphodel
Asphodelus albus

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

A clump forming herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m tall. It has a swollen root. The leaves are very narrow and 60 cm long. The flowering stems are 30-90 cm tall. The flowers are white or pink. They have a pinkish-brown stripe on each petal. The flowers are 30-40 mm long and in dense spike like groups.

There are 12 Asphodelus species. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on rocky ground and woodland. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, North Africa, Slovenia, Spain

How it is used for food

Caution The root is cooked and reduced to a pulp then blended with barley and buckwheat flours.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Root, tuber

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Capljan, Gamon, Navadni zlati koren

Synonyms

Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl.;