Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable from Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, grown for the tender spears that push up in early spring. In the US it has also escaped from gardens and grows wild, often along roadsides and ditches, where its feathery stalks stand out. "Sparrow grass" is an old folk name for it.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A perennial that grows 3–5 ft (1–1.5 m) tall with many slender, branching stems that look feathery.
- Leaves
- The soft "needles" (about 1/4–1 1/4 in, 6–32 mm long) are actually tiny modified stems called ; the true leaves are just small scales.
- Flowers
- Small, bell-shaped, greenish-white to pale yellow flowers hang from the branches in late spring to early summer (May–June in Minnesota).
- Fruit
- Red berries about 1/4–3/8 in (6–10 mm) across form on female plants.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Roadsides
- Ditches
- Gardens
- Range
- Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Not native to the US, but it has escaped from gardens and become , often along roadsides and ditches.
- Preferred conditions
- Full sun in moist, well-drained, sandy soil. It tolerates salt, so it does well near the coast, and grows in USDA hardiness zones 2–9.
- Flowering
Flowers May–Jun
Flowers May–Jun
Life cycle
- Reproduction
- Plants are usually either male or female. Both flower, but only females make berries.
Cautions
- Cautions
- The red berries can upset the stomach if eaten, so don't eat them. Handling raw young shoots can cause skin irritation in some people.
Name and classification
- Varieties and forms
- Green asparagus grows in sunlight. White asparagus is the same plant with the spears kept covered by soil so they never turn green. Purple types are sweet and turn green when cooked.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Threats
- In gardens, common pests include the asparagus beetle, spotted asparagus beetle, and aphids.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- European settlers had brought asparagus to North America by 1655.
- Eating asparagus makes many people's urine smell distinctive within 15–30 minutes, but not everyone can smell it.
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