Well adapted to harsh conditions

The flora of the Mediterranean region has evolved to cope with the harsh environment, as well as enduring thousands of years of human influence.

The asphodel is a prime example of these adaptations as its growth begins in winter, with flowering occurring in spring when warmth and moisture are most favourable.

It has become unpalatable to grazing animals such as goats, forming large colonies on overgrazed land.

Flowering at present in the rock garden is Asphodelus albus, the white asphodel.

This, along with other species of asphodel, will be included in the plantings in the Mediterranean garden which is under construction at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

The strap-like leaves are grey-green and tough.

The flower spike grows to around 1m with the white star-shaped flowers opening from the bottom of the raceme up, in mid-spring.

Each petal has a green mid-vein.

The roots are swollen, enabling the plant to survive dormant throughout the heat of summer.

It is best to propagate by division in autumn before growth begins in winter.

They will also grow easily from seed.

A well-drained soil is essential, ideally in full sun.

- A relative of daylily and Xanthorrhoea.

- Native to Spain eastward through to Greece, the Balearic Islands, and Sardinia.

- The ancient Greeks associated the asphodel with mourning and death. Souls that were neither good nor evil were sent to the Asphodel Meadows in the Greek underworld.

- The Mediterranean garden is due for completion in early 2010, and is situated below the Southern African garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden.

Robyn Freeth is the rock, water and alpine collection curator at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.