Asparagus officinalis

The botanical name for garden asparagus — a long-lived hardy perennial, prized since antiquity, grown for the tender spears it sends up each spring.
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Asparagus officinalis — garden asparagus

Asparagus officinalis is the botanical name for garden asparagus, a long-lived hardy perennial grown for the tender young spears it sends up each spring. It is the species behind our whole asparagus range within the wider vegetable collection.

History & origin

Asparagus has been prized for over two thousand years. Native to the coasts and river valleys of Europe, North Africa and western Asia, it was cultivated and celebrated by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who valued both its flavour and its reputed medicinal virtues.

The name reflects that long esteem: Asparagus comes from a Greek word for a tender shoot or sprout, while the species epithet officinalis marks it as a plant of the apothecary — one historically kept for the storeroom and the kitchen alike. From Roman gardens it spread across Europe to become the luxury spring vegetable we know today.

Botanical characteristics

Asparagus officinalis is a dioecious perennial, meaning plants are usually either male or female, with male plants tending to crop more heavily. From a crown of fleshy roots it pushes up the edible spears in spring; left uncut, these unfurl into tall, feathery summer fronds that feed the crown for the following year. Mature plants form a billowing, fern-like clump and, on female plants, small red berries. A well-established crown can keep producing for two decades or more.

Growing Asparagus officinalis from seed

Asparagus can be raised patiently from seed as an economical route to a full bed. Sow indoors in early spring, grow the seedlings on, and plant into deep, free-draining, weed-free soil enriched with organic matter. Leave the spears uncut for the first couple of years so the crowns build strength, then harvest each spring before letting the ferns grow on. Our vegetable growing guide covers the essentials, and the vegetable sowing calendar shows the timing.

Ready to start a bed of your own? Browse the range or read up first.

Related categories: Asparagus · Stem Vegetables · Perennial Vegetables · Rhubarb · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

What does the name Asparagus officinalis mean?
Asparagus comes from a Greek word for a tender shoot, and officinalis marks it as a traditional apothecary or storeroom plant, valued in the kitchen and for health. Why are male asparagus plants preferred?
Asparagus plants are usually male or female; male plants put energy into spears rather than seed, so they tend to crop more heavily. How long does an asparagus plant live?
A well-established crown can keep producing spears for 20 years or more, making it one of the longest-lived vegetable crops. Can I grow Asparagus officinalis from seed?
Yes — it's an economical alternative to crowns. Sow indoors in early spring, grow on, and allow two to three years before harvesting fully.