Asphodelus albus
Royal star, White asphodel
- Height × spread
- 0.9m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This beautiful and quietly dramatic plant makes a clump of slender arching or bending mid-green leaves. The flower spikes rise above this. They form quite stout spires, closely clad with white buds, opening to starry flowers. The top of the columnar spire is chestnut-brown when young. Close examination reveals that the individual blooms have a pink central vein. The flowers come from bracts. This flowers during late spring and early summer. The clump will increase in size over time. This reaches around 90cm (3ft) height with 30cm (12in) spread.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Grey
- Fruit colour
- Brown
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.9m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.