Wild asparagus

Asparagus acutifolius

Layer 4 · Herbaceous
Edible companion

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Wild asparagus is a perennial and often climbing subshrub, native to the Mediterranean region and known for its spiky stems. It adapts well to severe drought conditions and stony soils, growing wild beneath the canopies of pine and cork oak trees. In a food forest, it is ideal for lower or border layers, taking advantage of adjacent supports and offering an early food harvest in late winter and spring.

It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.

See which trees wild asparagus grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Partial shade
Size: Perennial herb up to 1.5 m
Mature diameter: 1 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean, Mountain / cold

Calendar

January
February — Harvest — Planting
March — Harvest — Planting
April — Harvest
May — Harvest
June
July
August
September — Planting
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: It has a potent diuretic and depurative effect on the body.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Walnut tree

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

Cork oak

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.