Asphodelus ramosus, Silverrod

February days find new sea-green blades pushing skyward. By early May, four-foot spires are covered in white star flowers with prominent stamens and pinkish-tan midribs. Bees and butterflies will take advantage! Coming from the Mediterranean, particularly the Catalan coast, but also from N. Africa, it likes rocky hillsides — tough and tolerant. If you can loosely approximate those conditions — well-draining soil and lots of sunshine — you'll be sure to have good results. They even remain attractive in late season when the flowers become shining, golden orbs. Clumping habit to 16" wide. We grow these plants in several places in our gardens. Our largest plants are in a rocky SE-sloped area by a parking pad for added radiant heat. We also have them in our dry meadow on the NW side of the garden. They are in heavy clay with poor drainage. They still naturalize politely throughout, but the clumps of foliage are significantly smaller, closer to 8-20 in W x 12 in T with smaller spires that still reach 3-4 ft T.  Mature size: 4 ft T x 1-1.5 ft W Minimum temperature: -5º F