King's-spear
Asphodeline lutea · Asphodelaceae
📷 Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Bulbes et toutes parties contiennent alcaloïdes; ingestion provoque brûlures muqueuse, troubles GI chez chiens/chats/enfants.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant king's-spear: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Jacob's rod
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Type
- Perennial herbaceous plant
- Adult height
- 80 cm
- Flowering
- May to July
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Origin
- Eastern Mediterranean
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Yellow Asphodeline hates heavy, damp soils—it's the classic pitfall. Amend heavily with sand or gravel to get near-dry drainage, even if it claims to handle average soil.
The common mistake
People drown it thinking they're doing right in compact soil; it rots in fall-winter, then vanishes come spring.
The pro's trick
Divide clumps every 3-4 years in late summer: they'll rejuvenate, flower better, and become more vigorous.
Care
Sunlight
Place Jacob's rod in full sun to ensure abundant flowering and well-colored flowers. This Mediterranean plant loves heat and direct sunlight, ideally 6 to 8 hours per day. A location sheltered from intense wind is preferable, although the plant is generally tolerant of it.
Watering
Water moderately when planting and during flowering, then gradually reduce after the growing season. Once established, this plant is very tolerant of drought and requires little water. During prolonged dry periods, occasional watering is sufficient; avoid excess moisture, particularly in winter.
Soil
Prepare well-draining soil, even poor or stony soil, which mimics Mediterranean conditions. Amend with sand or gravel if your soil is heavy or too rich. A neutral to slightly alkaline pH is ideal; however, the plant adapts to most soil types as long as water doesn't stagnate.
Pruning and cleanup
Remove spent flower stems to extend flowering and encourage new stems to emerge. In autumn or late winter, cut back dry foliage to ground level. Little additional intervention is needed; the plant naturally maintains an attractive clump shape.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is rarely necessary for this undemanding plant. In spring, a light application of compost or low-nitrogen fertilizer can support growth, but remain very moderate. In poor or sandy soils, a balanced fertilizer at the start is more than sufficient.
Diseases and pests
Jacob's rod is little susceptible to diseases when well-positioned and well-drained. Be careful to avoid stagnant moisture, the main risk for root rot. In dry and sunny conditions, pests remain rare and the plant shows natural vigor.
Did you know?
The name 'Jacob's rod' evokes the biblical vision of the patriarch Jacob seeing a ladder linking earth to heaven, the small yellow flowers aligned on the stem resembling rungs. In the Mediterranean, this plant was traditionally cultivated for its medicinal properties; the ancient Greeks and Romans used it in decoctions.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.