Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) Asphodeline lutea
Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) (Asphodeline lutea) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family, native to Rocky hills from Italy and the Balkans to Turkey, the Caucasus and the Levant. It grows 60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft) tall and 30–40 cm (12–16 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 35 cm (14 in) apart.
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Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft) |
| Mature spread | 30–40 cm (12–16 in) |
| Spacing | 35 cm (14 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Rocky hills from Italy and the Balkans to Turkey, the Caucasus and the Levant |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France |
Is Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod)
- How far apart should I plant Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod)?
- About 35 cm (14 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–40 cm (12–16 in).
- Does Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod)?
- It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) flower?
- From about May for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
Notes and assumptions
- A summer-dry plant: water it through its first summer, then rarely or never; it wants sun, lean soil and sharp drainage, and is killed by summer irrigation and heavy clay more often than by drought.
- Tufts of narrow, grooved, blue-grey leaves and stiff spikes of fragrant, starry yellow flowers in late spring, followed by round green seed capsules. The asphodel meadows of Greek myth were fields of its white relative Asphodelus.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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