Asphodeline

Family: Asphodelaceae. Name: the genus was named for its external resemblance to plants of the genus Asphodelus.

Description: The genus comprises, by various accounts, from 15 to 20 species. Perennial (rarely biennial) herbaceous plants with short rhizomes. They grow on sunny rocky meadows and among shrubs on dry slopes in the Mediterranean region, Crimea and the Caucasus.

Inflorescences are a dense raceme on an unbranched stem, flowers white or yellow. The perianth segments are turned outward, narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, with a single longitudinal vein, fused at the base into a short tube. Stamens are attached to the tube; filaments are of unequal length, widened at the base. Pedicels are jointed. Bracts are membranous. Leaves are stem leaves, numerous, linear-subulate, narrowly three-angled, with broad membranous sheaths. Fruit is a three-chambered leathery capsule. Seeds are three-angled, black.

Location: grows well in moderately fertile, well-drained sandy and loamy soils in full sun.

Care: when grown in harsh climates, it should be protected for the winter.

Pests and diseases: slugs, snails, aphids.

Propagation: Seeds are sown into containers on a cool windowsill in spring. Division of mature plants is done in late summer - early autumn. Divide thick rhizomes into pieces with 2-3 growth points.

Uses: for borders and rock gardens.