As of September 2014, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 212 species of Asparagus, including: [6]
- Asparagus acutifolius
- Asparagus aethiopicus (= Asparagus sprengeri, Protasparagus aethiopicus) – ground asparagus, asparagus fern, ( S. Afr .) emerald fern, basket asparagus ...
- Asparagus africanus (= Protasparagus africanus) – African asparagus
- Asparagus asparagoides ( = Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) – smilax, African asparagus fern, ( Austr .) bridal creeper
- Green Asparagus.
- White Asparagus.
- Purple Asparagus.
- Wild Asparagus.
- Apollo Asparagus.
- Atlas Asparagus.
- Jersey Series Asparagus.
- Precoce D'Argenteuil Asparagus.
What is the best type of asparagus to eat?
Thicker stalks are usually higher in fiber, according to Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops at Pennsylvania State University. But whether thick or thin, asparagus stalks of all sizes are nutritious and delicious. Asparagus is high in folic acid and is a good source of potassium, vitamins B6, A, and C.
What flavors of asparagus are there?
Flavor. Green asparagus is a bit grassy in flavor, while white asparagus is mild and slightly bitter. Purple asparagus is a bit nuttier and sweeter because it has about 20 percent more sugar in its stalks. While the stalks are purple on the outside, the interior of the asparagus is the same as a green spear.
Are there different types of asparagus plants?
Asparagus is a perennial plant, and its edible young shoots can be cultivated to be green, white, purple or many other less popular varieties. Learn all about six common types of asparagus and their nutritional facts.
What is the sweetest asparagus?
Purple: Known to be the sweetest type, purple asparagus gets its color from high levels of anthocyanins, chemical compounds commonly found in vegetables and other plants.
What does asparagus do to your body?
It's low in calories and a great source of nutrients, including fiber, folate and vitamins A, C and K. Additionally, eating asparagus has a number of potential health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, healthy pregnancy outcomes and lower blood pressure.
Why is white asparagus so expensive?
Why is white asparagus so expensive? Because growing white asparagus underground is much more labor intensive, that's reflected in the price. Each stalk must be unearthed and cut by hand, a painstaking job. White asparagus can be as a much as $2 more a bunch than green.
Which asparagus is most tender?
"In supermarkets, shoppers will see thin spears of asparagus bunched and marketed as 'tender gourmet' style," says Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops. "In reality, spears that are larger than a half-inch in diameter are more tender and higher in soluble fiber and vitamins than the thinner spears."
Are all types of asparagus edible?
Garden asparagus produces edible shoots, or spears, that are tasty and nutritious, but there are some parts of the plant that aren't edible. Asparagus fruit, or berries, are the primary part of the plant that is toxic. The toxic principle is unknown.
Where is the best asparagus from?
Hampshire County, home to New England's most productive farmland, has been called the “Asparagus Capital of the World” for its prolific abundance of the crop.
How can you tell a male asparagus from a female?
Asparagus Sex Determination Asparagus is dioecious, which means there are both male and female plants. Female asparagus produces seeds that look like little red berries. Male plants produce thicker, larger spears than females. The flowers on male plants are also larger and longer than those on females.
What is skinny asparagus called?
Pencil asparagus are varieties that are cultivated and harvested young specifically for their thin, tender spears. Their stems are pistachio green capped with purple- green cruciferous tree-shaped tips.
What is purple asparagus called?
'Purple Passion' – As its name suggests, this widely grown variety produces attractive, ultra-sweet, purple spears. If purple asparagus doesn't sound appetizing, don't worry; the color fades when the asparagus is cooked. 'Purple Passion' consists of both male and female plants.