Plant Details

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus, Garden asparagus

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Common names

38 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Asparagus[1]
  • Garden asparagus[1]
  • Sparrow Grass[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • wild asparagus[1]
Other languages (29)
Dutch
French
  • Asperge
  • Asperge cultivée[1]
Afrikaans
Belarusian
  • Спаржа лекавая, ці Шпараг[1]
Catalan
  • espareguera d'hort[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • chřest lékařský[1]
  • chřest lékařský pravý[1]
Danish
Emilian Romagnol
  • Sparzéina[1]
Estonian
  • harilik aspar[1]
Finnish
  • ruokaparsa[1]
German
  • Gemüsespargel[1]
Greek
  • Σπαράγγι[1]
Hungarian
  • Közönséges spárga[1]
Italian
  • Asparago comune[1]
Japanese
  • アスパラガス[1]
  • オランダキジカクシ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis Smidras[1]
Maori
  • pikopiko Pākehā[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Szparag lekarski[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Спаржа лекарственная[1]
Slovak
  • asparágus lekársky[1]
Spanish
  • Espárrago[1]
Swedish
Thai
  • หน่อไม้ฝรั่ง[1]
Turkish
  • kuşkonmaz[1]
Ukrainian
  • Холодок лікарський[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Asparagus officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • wild asparagus — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • garden asparagus — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • asparagus — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Asperge cultivée — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Espargo — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Espárrago — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Gemüsespargel — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • chřest lékařský — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Asparges — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • 蘆筍 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Спаржа лекарственная — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • asparges — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • ruokaparsa — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Szparag lekarski — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Vaistinis Smidras — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • オランダキジカクシ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • アスパラガス — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • sparris — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • asparágus lekársky — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • 石刁柏 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Asparago comune — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Sparzéina — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Sparrow Grass — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • harilik aspar — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Σπαράγγι — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Asperge — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • 芦笋 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • kuşkonmaz — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Aspersie — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Холодок лікарський — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • chřest lékařský pravý — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Спаржа лекавая, ці Шпараг — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • espareguera d'hort — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Aspargo — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • หน่อไม้ฝรั่ง — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • Közönséges spárga — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.
  • pikopiko Pākehā — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 60265; Asparagus officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Asparagus officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Asparagus officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asparagaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Asparagus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Asparagus, Garden asparagus
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.46–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Coffee, Stem
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Insecticide, Bee forage

Description

Young asparagus shoots can be eaten both raw and cooked. Asparagus is considered a delicacy and is highly valued in culinary circles for its refined flavor. The shoots are harvested in the spring and are usually boiled or steamed to be used as a vegetable. The best shoots are produced by male plants. Make sure not to harvest the plant too much, as this can affect the flavor the following year. Asparagus shoots are a good source of proteins and dietary fibers. The seeds of the plant can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/04
Harvest ends: 24/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1158254; name ID 274909; Asparagus Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1153955; name ID 275197; Asparagus officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Asparagus officinalis

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4863026, ID HBJ4: Asparagus officinalis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Asparagus officinalis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .