Asphodelus albus
Asphodelus albus Mill.
Asphodelus albus is a statuesque perennial from the Mediterranean region, producing tall, unbranched or lightly branched spires of gleaming white, star-shaped flowers with a distinctive brown central vein on each petal in spring. It is one of mythology's most important flowers, deeply associated with the realm of the dead, the afterlife, and the memory of the departed.
Asphodelaceae (Asphodel family)
April to June (mid-spring to early summer)
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Cultural Significance
Of all the flowers in Western civilization, none carries a richer mythological legacy than the asphodel. In ancient Greek belief, the Asphodel Meadows were a vast plain in the underworld where ordinary souls, neither especially virtuous nor especially wicked, spent their afterlife wandering among fields of asphodel flowers. Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, and many other classical writers refer to the asphodel as the flower of the dead, and it was planted on Greek graves to nourish the souls of the departed. The name asphodel has since become a poetic synonym for any flower associated with death and remembrance in Western literature, used by writers from Milton to Tennyson to William Carlos Williams, whose famous poem "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower" draws on the full weight of this mythological tradition. Beyond its funerary associations, the asphodel is also a symbol of pure, unblemished memory: in the Elysian Fields, the privileged afterlife of heroes, asphodels grew alongside the blessed. In Mediterranean folk traditions, the plant's robust ability to survive fire, drought, and overgrazing on rocky hillsides gave it additional associations with resilience and the persistence of the spirit beyond physical death.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun; does not thrive in shade
Water
Drought tolerant; requires excellent drainage; thrives in dry conditions and is intolerant of waterlogged soil, especially in winter
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy, Rocky, Gravelly, Poor to moderately fertile, Alkaline to neutral, pH 6.5–8.5
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in the sunniest available position in very well-drained, even poor soil; rich or moist soil causes lax growth and rot
Mulch with gravel around the crown to improve drainage and replicate its natural rocky habitat
Leave seed heads in place through winter for structural interest and for bird food
Hardy to USDA zone 7 with sharp drainage; protect the fleshy rhizomes from prolonged wet and freezing conditions
Propagate by dividing established clumps in early autumn, or sow seeds in a cold frame in spring
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Dramatic vertical accent in Mediterranean-style gardens
- Gravel and dry garden specimen
- Rock garden and dry slope planting
- Cut flower with excellent form
- Prairie and naturalistic planting for structural interest
Traditional Uses
- In ancient Greek and Roman medicine, the fleshy roots were used as a food source during famines and as a treatment for various ailments including snake bite and skin conditions
- The boiled tubers were eaten in parts of southern Europe and North Africa as a famine food; they have a starchy, slightly bitter flavor
- No significant modern medicinal applications are documented for Asphodelus albus
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Asphodelus albus
What does Asphodelus albus symbolize?
White asphodel is one of mythology's most symbolically loaded flowers. In ancient Greek belief, it was the flower of the dead and the afterlife, growing in the Asphodel Meadows where ordinary souls wandered after death. Today it symbolizes remembrance, eternal memory, mourning, and the passage between the living and the dead.
What is the Asphodel Meadows in Greek mythology?
The Asphodel Meadows were a region of the Greek underworld where the souls of those who had lived neither exceptionally virtuous nor especially wicked lives spent eternity. Unlike the Elysian Fields (for heroes) or Tartarus (for the wicked), the Asphodel Meadows were the destination of ordinary souls, who wandered there among fields of asphodel, the flower of the dead.
How do you grow Asphodelus albus?
Plant in full sun in very well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil. It thrives in rocky, gravelly, or sandy soils and is highly drought tolerant once established. Avoid rich or moist soils as these cause lax growth and rotting of the fleshy roots. Mulch with gravel around the crown to improve drainage.
Is Asphodelus albus the same as the Asphodel in poetry?
Yes. When classical and romantic poets refer to asphodel, they are almost always drawing on the mythology associated with Asphodelus species, particularly A. albus and A. ramosus. William Carlos Williams' celebrated late poem "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower" draws on this full tradition, as does Milton's description of Paradise Lost and Tennyson's Tithonus.
When does White Asphodel bloom?
Asphodelus albus blooms from April to June in its native Mediterranean climate, producing its tall, elegant white flower spires in mid-spring to early summer. In cultivation in cooler climates, flowering may be slightly later, from May to July.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
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