Practical
Plants

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus

a perennial member of the Asparagus genus in the family Asparagaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.75 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Large quantities of the shoots can irritate the kidneys[10][22]. The berries are mildly poisonous[6].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - raw or cooked[2, 5, 15, 16, 27, K]. Considered a gourmet food[3], the shoots are harvested in the spring. We find them very acceptable raw in salads, with a hint of onion in their flavour[K]. They are normally boiled or steamed and used as a vegetable[K]. Male plants produce the best shoots[1]. Do not over-harvest the plant because this would weaken it in the following year. The shoots are a good source of protein and dietary fibre[12]. Roasted seeds are a coffee substitute[13][21][9].

Product or use
Coffee
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Asparagus has been cultivated for over 2,000 years as a vegetable and medicinal herb[16]. Both the roots and the shoots can be used medicinally, they have a restorative and cleansing effect on the bowels, kidneys and liver[16]. The plant is antispasmodic, aperient, cardiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative and tonic[20][13][7][12][17]. The freshly expressed juice is used[20]. The root is diaphoretic, strongly diuretic and laxative[24][14][15]. An infusion is used in the treatment of jaundice and congestive torpor of the liver[17]. The strongly diuretic action of the roots make it useful in the treatment of a variety of urinary problems including cystitis[18]. It is also used in the treatment of cancer[14]. The roots are said to be able to lower blood pressure[23][15]. The roots are harvested in late spring, after the shoots have been cut as a food crop, and are dried for later use[23]. The seeds possess antibiotic activity[15]. Another report says that the plant contains asparagusic acid which is nematocidal and is used in the treatment of schistosomiasis[16].

Product or use
Antibiotic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains asparagusic acid, which has nematocidal properties[16].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
Western Europe, including Britain, from N. Germany to S. W. France.
Habitat
Fertile and sandy soils by the seashore and along river banks[24][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K]. Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in any good garden soil[5]. Prefers a rich well-drained sandy loam and a sunny position[1][5][19][16]. Prefers a pH of 6.5 or higher[11], though it tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.2. Asparagus is often cultivated as a luxury vegetable, there are some named varieties[5][9]. Well-tended plants can be long-lived, an asparagus bed can last for well over 20 years. Asparagus is a good companion plant for tomatoes, parsley and basil[8][10][12]. When grown together, tomatoes help to protect asparagus from the asparagus beetle[12]. Asparagus is said to repel the nematodes that can infect tomatoes[12] (see the report below on the plants other uses). A good bee plant[2]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  5. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants.

    ↩

  7. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  8. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  12. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  14. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  15. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  19. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

  20. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  21. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  22. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  23. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  24. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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