Plant Details

Asphodeline lutea

Yellow asphodel , King’s spear

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Common names

26 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • King's-spear[1]
  • King’s spear
  • Yellow asphodel[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Yellow King's-spear[1]
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Gele affodil[1]
  • Jonkerlelie
French
  • Asphodèle jaune
  • Asphodèline jaune[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Croatian
  • Žuta zlatoglavica[1]
Czech
  • asfodelína žlutá[1]
Danish
Finnish
  • keltasoihtu[1]
German
  • Gelber Affodill[1]
Hebrew
  • עיריוני צהוב[1]
Italian
  • Asfodelo giallo[1]
Japanese
  • キバナツルボ[1]
Polish
  • Złotnica żółta[1]
Russian
  • Асфоделина желтая[1]
  • Асфоделина жёлтая[1]
Slovak
  • asfodelka žltá[1]
Slovenian
  • rumeni čepljec[1]
Swedish
  • junkerlilja[1]
Turkish
  • Sarı Sankiçiriş[1]
Ukrainian
  • Асфоделіна жовта[1]
  • Золотень жовтий[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] Asphodeline lutea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • King's-spear — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • עיריוני צהוב — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Asfodelo giallo — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Yellow Asphodel — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Asphodèline jaune — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Gelber Affodill — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Асфоделина жёлтая — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • asfodelína žlutá — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Žuta zlatoglavica — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • キバナツルボ — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • junkerlilja — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Yellow King's-spear — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Золотень жовтий — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Асфоделіна жовта — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Kejserlys — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • rumeni čepljec — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Złotnica żółta — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Gele affodil — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Sarı Sankiçiriş — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • keltasoihtu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • asfodelka žltá — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • 日光兰 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.
  • Асфоделина желтая — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 335852; Asphodeline lutea.

General information

Scientific name: Asphodeline lutea
Accepted name (Kew): Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asphodelaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Yellow asphodel , King’s spear
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

Roasted carrots were popular among the ancient Greeks. They prepared the carrots in the same way as potatoes - roasted with salt and oil or mashed with figs. The carrots were not very thick but had a rich nutty flavor. They could be harvested year-round, but were best when the plant was dormant in late summer and early autumn. It is important to use them within a few weeks after harvesting, as they do not keep well. Young shoots of the plant can be cooked. They do not smell particularly pleasant during cooking, but have a fairly neutral taste. However, some find them quite tasty. The plant grows in late summer and autumn, and the young shoots can be moderately harvested throughout the winter. The flowers of the plant can be consumed raw and have a pleasant sweetness. They are a decorative and flavorful addition to salads but should be used as soon as possible because they wilt quickly. The flowers are most beautiful in the late afternoon and can be enjoyed visually throughout the day and culinarily in the evening. Occasionally, the plant blooms with double flowers, with twice the number of petals, but their exact name is unknown.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

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 229057; name ID 275374; Asphodeline Rchb.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1154234; name ID 275397; Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Asphodeline lutea

    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 1799710, ID 5W5MB: Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. (accepted).

    Source checked on .