King's Spear - Asphodeline lutea - €14  per plant 

A wonderful plant with blue-green grass-like leaves, bearing tall stems of starry yellow or white fragrant flowers in the late spring, making a splendid feature on the sunny edge of a woodland garden. Many parts of the plant are edible and delicious, especially the roots, which were reportedly enjoyed by the ancient Greeks on many occasions. It is an easily grown plant succeeding in ordinary garden soil which should be well drained.  It is known to attract a wide variety of insects, and bees are fond of its striking blooms.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].   

Context

  • native region: Mediterranean to Caucasus
  • native habitat: Dry grassland, rocky and stony places - usually on limestone.
  • family: Asphodelaceae

Predators

  • ​Generally pest free, although slugs and snails are partial to its shoots

Needs, tolerances 


  • Light: Semi-shade or  full sun 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • Tolerates maritime exposure
  • Hardiness Zone: 6
  • Prefers well drained soil











Known hazards 

  • No known hazards

Overview

  • €5 per plant 
  • 12cm x 20cm plant bag or bare root in dormant season   
  • Herbaceous perennial growing to 1m  by 1.5m at a medium rate.
  • Hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. 
  • In flower in June - July, seeds ripen from July - September. 
  • Flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by Insects.
  • Noted for attracting a variety of insect life. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils.
  • Can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. 
  • It likes dry or moist soil.
  • The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Characteristics

  • form: herbaceous perennial
  • layer :Herb Layer
  • habit: Clump-forming perennial with narrow, channelled leaves and fragrant bright yellow flowers 
  • height x width (m): 1 x 1.5

Products 

  • Flowers:  Fragrant yellow flowers arriving in late spring. These gorgeous star-shaped blooms are carried in long, dense, unbranched spikes up to 20cm long. They are a very decorative and tasty addition to the salad bowl but should be used as soon as possible after harvesting because they soon start to decompose.
  • Roots: Ancient Greeks roasted the roots and ate them like potatoes with salt and oil,  They are not too thick, but are abundantly produced and have a nice nutty flavour.  Harvest at any time of the year, but best used when the plant is dormant in late summer and early autumn

Functions, behaviours

  • Can grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Prone to dying back in heavy, poorly-drained soil
  • Fairly wind resistant  
  • A very ornamental plant
  • Can be successfully divided throughout the growing season so long as it is kept well  watered in dry weather
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project