Plant in full sun to light shade in most any conditions and water occasionally to not at all once established. Thought to be hardy to 15-20° F and perhaps would come up from its tuberous roots in colder situations. This curious very dry growing plant can be used as an interesting specimen or even and open short hedge. It has short thorns on the stems, so is a bit rough to work with without gloves but is not dangerously so or really what one would consider to be wickedly thorny.

Asparagus aphyllus is naturally widely distributed in southwestern and southeastern Europe as well as in northern Africa and western Asia and is most abundant in southern Spain and Portugal. The name for the genus originates from the original Greek word 'asparagos' that was given to the cultivated asparagus. The specific epithet means without leaves as the pseudo leaves of this plant are actually considered to be flattened leaflike structures. It is also commonly called Prickly Asparagus and in Spanish is called Espárragos Portugueses.Our plants from seed collected on an old specimen near the Geology Department building at the University of California Santa Barbara. 

The information about Asparagus aphyllus displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.