White asphodel

Asphodelus albus

In other languages: Witte affodil (Nederlands) · Asphodèle blanc (Français)

White asphodel is a perennial from the asphodel family, native to southern and central Europe, where it grows in mountain meadows, open woodland and on sunny slopes. It forms a clump of narrow, channelled, grey-green leaves, above which straight, usually unbranched stems of 60–90 cm rise in May–June. These carry dense clusters of white, starry flowers; each petal has a fine brown central stripe. Below ground sits a bundle of fleshy, tuberous roots that help it through dry summers. Gardeners value its simple, natural look in gravel gardens, prairie-style borders and sunny edges.

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Full sun
warm and bright
Moisture
Dry to normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand or loam
any pH
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -20 °C
Size
0.9 m
tall, 0.3 m wide
Flowering
May–June

Key facts
Pruning months	March and July
Height	0.9 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	May–June

Identify

White asphodel: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Clump of grassy leaves with straight, usually unbranched flower stems up to 90 cm; about 30 cm wide.
Leaves: Long, narrow and channelled, grey-green, only at the base of the plant.
Flower: Dense clusters of white, starry flowers about 3 cm across, with a brown central stripe on each petal, in May–June.
Fruit: Round capsules containing dark seeds.
Roots: A bundle of thick, spindle-shaped tuberous roots that store water and food.

Flowering: May–June · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: March and July

In your garden

Why grow it?

White flower clusters in May–June, bridging the gap between spring bulbs and the summer border.
Drought tolerant thanks to its fleshy, tuberous roots.
Bees and bumblebees readily visit the open, starry flowers.
A natural, understated look that suits a gravel garden or prairie-style border.
Very long-lived if it can stay undisturbed.

White asphodel: where does it grow best?

Full sun, in a warm spot.
Poor sandy or loamy soil, acid, neutral or chalky, that drains well.
Dry to moderately moist; no wet soil in winter.
Lovely in a gravel garden, a prairie-style border, a sunny edge or a semi-wild flower meadow.
Plant 30–40 cm apart, in groups of three to five.

Light: Sun
Soil type: Sand or loam
Acidity: Not fussy
Moisture: Dry or normal
Size: 0.9 m tall, 0.3 m wide
Hardiness: Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

Bearded iris: Flowers at the same time and likes the same dry, sunny spot.
Ornamental onion: Purple globes among the white clusters.
Rock rose: A low, colourful ground cover for the foreground.
Feather grass: Fine, swaying stems around the upright flower spikes.

Maintenance

White asphodel: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

Plant in March–April or in September–October, when the soil is not too wet.
Choose a permanent spot straight away: it dislikes being moved.
Dig a generous hole and spread out the tuberous roots carefully, without breaking them.
Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, with the buds at or just below soil level, and fill in with poor soil.
Water thoroughly once, then only during long dry spells.
A gravel mulch keeps the base dry.

Care

Watering: Rarely needed once established, only during long droughts in the first year.
Feeding: Do not feed: poor soil gives sturdier plants and better flowering.
Faded flowers: Cut off the stems after flowering, or leave a few for seed.
Old leaves: Remove withered leaves in March, before the new shoots appear.
Leave it be: Let it stand undisturbed for years: the clump then grows larger and flowers more freely each year.

Tip: Choose a sunny, permanent spot when planting and then leave the clump alone: the older it gets, the more flower stems it produces.

White asphodel: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: After flowering, in July, cut off the flower stems; remove withered leaves in March.

How:

Cut faded stems just above the leafy clump.
Leave a few stems if you want to collect seed.
In March, cut or pull away the dead leaves, before the new shoots appear.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division: In September or March, and only for a large, old clump: lift it carefully and split it into pieces with buds and tuberous roots. Allow a year for recovery.
Seed: In autumn, sow ripe seed in a pot of sandy compost and leave it outdoors; it often germinates only in spring. Seedlings take a few years to flower.

White asphodel: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

Hardy to about −20 °C: no problem in most Belgian winters.
Wet soil is more dangerous than frost: the tuberous roots rot in water.
A layer of gravel around the base keeps the heart dry.
In a pot: stand it against a wall under a roof overhang, so the compost does not get waterlogged.

Diseases and pests

Root rot: The clump goes limp and yellow in a wet winter or on heavy soil. Plant in free-draining soil and mulch with gravel.
Slugs: In spring they eat young leaves and flower buds. Pick them off in the evening.
Few flowers: Normal in the first year after planting or dividing. Shade and rich soil also hold back flowering.
Floppy stems: On soil that is too rich or in shade, the stems fall over. Do not feed and choose a sunny spot.

Through the year

March: Remove withered leaves. Planting.
April: Planting. New leaves and flower stems.
May: Flowering begins.
June: In flower, busy with bees.
July: Cut off faded stems. Collect seed.
August: Little to do: no watering needed.
September: Plant or divide an old clump. Sow in a pot outdoors.
October: Planting. Top up the gravel around the base.
December: Rest.

Use

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

In Greek mythology, the Asphodel Meadows were the part of the underworld where the shades of ordinary mortals wandered.
The English word daffodil probably derives from asphodelus, the name of this genus.

Garden plants · All species