The impressive flower spikes of Asphodelus albus punctuate the Mediterranean Beds to great effect.
Asphodelaceae contains over 40 genera of succulent or leathery herbs, and trees, including Hemerocallis, Kniphofia, Phormium, and Asphodelus. The latter comprises 18 species of rhizomatous perennials from open woodland, scrub and rocky habitats of central Europe, the Mediterranean and the Himalaya. All species have dense tufts of basal leaves, and leafless flower stems. A. albus is a Mediterranean species with an un-branched flower stem to 1m in height and bearing racemes of star-shaped, white flowers. This is a robust tuberous species from southern Europe, whose natural habitat is rocky, dry hillsides, meadows and thickets. In the garden it thrives in an open, sunny site in poor soils.