Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), packet of 10 seeds, organic
$4.95
Family: Asphodel (Asphodelaceae)
Hardy Zone 6 to 10, evergreen in Zone 8 and up, otherwise herbaceous
Rare, tuberous, Aloe-like herbaceous perennial native to the shores of the Mediterranean. Slow-growing but tenacious, the plant awakens early in the spring, sending forth multiple, long, pointed, succulent leaves followed by the upright flowering plume, showy striped white. During the summer, the flowers give way to interesting seed capsules, light mahogany brown. Historical usage (TWM): acrid roots used to dissolve unwanted growths, tumors, freckles. Roots used to make glue, also boiled and combined with other ingredients to make “asphodel bread.” Not much used in modern herbalism. The plant prefers full sun and a dryish exposure and is tolerant of salt and wind. This plant grows on you. Sow seeds in spring, summer or fall to germinate the following spring. Good growers will find these to be quite reliable. Use outdoor nursery bed technique, outdoor flats, gallon pots or unheated greenhouse. Work up in successively larger pots. Give them plenty of space on the landscape, they are show plants that look well singly. Flowers to 3 feet.
10 seeds per packet, Certified Organically Grown
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Question
Amethyst Trotter (verified owner) –
Trying to research the ediblity of this plant, particularly the root but finding little info and contradicting info. Any advice?
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Richo Cech –
hi amethyst, Apparently some people (historically at least) do or did eat asphodel, but I find it an unlikely choice. Here’s a link for you https://seasonalforaging.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/asphodelus-ramosus/
richo
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Amethyst Trotter (verified owner) –
That article is talking about Asphodelus ramosus whereas these seeds are Asphodelus Albus. Do you think the article still applies? (I’ve yet to read it)
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Richo Cech –
Yes, it is the same plant, just different ways to express the Latin. r
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Dakota (verified owner) –
Is there a particular trick to germinating asphodel seeds? Do they need a winter to grow?
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Richo Cech –
hi dakota, standard outdoor culture for long germinating seeds–screened flats or well-mulched nursery bed. nice that the seeds are big, that helps. don’t know any way to do this quickly. r
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Verin Stewart –
I just bought a pack of these, I’ve never been good at growing plants from seeds, so I have to ask, I know it says they prefer dryer dirt, but how often should I add moisture? I can’t imagine this is a plant where you stick a seed in the ground and leave it for months on end and it just does it’s thing
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Richo Cech –
Hello Verin, Thanks for writing. I do think that research, both in the form of book learning and observation in nature, will help anyone get over the hump in terms of seed germination “luck.” Read page 195 of “Growing Plant Medicine Vol 1” for the in-depth info about asphodel, which is by the way a really cool plant. Basically you plant the seeds (all of them from the packet) in a gallon pot or deep flat of fast-draining soil (not dry soil, soil with grit in it so it drains) and leave outdoors in a shady, protected place for the winter and they germinate in the spring. Yes, they need to be kept moist during the whole time. Mulching the flat with decomposed leaves or coconut coir can be helpful in this. Natural precipitation in the form of rainfall and snow leaches germination inhibitors and is the best form of moisture you can get. As for the websites that say stuff like “give 1/2 cup water daily,” well, that is worth a good laugh. Richo
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