Wood asparagus, Spiny asparagus
Asparagus acutifolius

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 in clusters of 10-30. They are 2-8 mm long and have spines at their tips. Plants are separately male or female. 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 4.5-7.5 mm across.

There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry rocky habitats.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Croatia, Cyprus, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, San Marino, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The young shoots are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. They have a distinctive aromatic flavour. They are also used in omelettes. They are also fried. They can be added to stews.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots, vegetable, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asparagi, Asparago selvatico, Azzouy, Citir, Coban cirasi, Esparrago, Esparragos trigueros, Esparreguera, Gicik, Ispina sorichina, Kuskonmaz, Kuskondurmaz, Ostrolistni beluš, Sekoum, Sparace di rizzogna, Sparacogna, Sparasc', Sparoge, Spar'je, Tilki, Tilkisen, Triguero

Synonyms

Asparagus aetnensis Tornab.; Asparagus brevifolius Tornab.; and others