Guide to growing Asphodeline - Jacob's Rod
Asphodeline are hardy perennials.
Some of the common names for members of the genus include Asphodel; Jacob's rod and King's spear.
They normally flower in the summer months.
Description of Jacob's Rod
Asphodeline are fairly tall plants typically 30 cm to one metre in size. At the top of these tall stems can be found clustered yellow flowers that are star like in colour. Jacob's rod flowers are often very fragrant in nature.
How to grow Jacob's rod
If you plan to grow Jacob's rod from seed outdoors then they should be planted out from spring to early summer. Simply cover the seeds once sown. If you are planting Asphodeline root stocks then you should plant these at a depth of 8 to 10 cm. If you plant to plant Jacob's rod seeds indoors then this should ideally be done in the early spring, germination will take in the region of a month and should be performed at temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. The seedlings can then be transplanted outdoors after the last frost of spring (or in autumn).
Seedlings of Jacob's rod species should be planted out at a distance of about 20 cm apart for smaller species and 35 to 45 cm for larger species. They should ideally be planted in a sunny area of the garden for best flowering, but can also be grown in partially shaded areas of the garden. They are best grown in a well drained soil of pH 6 to 8.
Caring for Jacob's rod
Jacob's rod is pretty easy to look after, they should be fertilized in the spring, and kept watered during dry periods. Flowering stems should be removed after the last spring frost to encourage more flowering heads.