Family · Monocots
Asparagaceae
Asparagus, agave, hyacinth, hosta
Broad family of herbs, succulents and shrubs including edible asparagus, agaves, hyacinths and hostas.
- Accepted species
- 3,628accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 126accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈59 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Africamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Asparagaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Asparagus
- Agave
- Hyacinthus
- Yucca
Largest genera
Aspidistra251 spp.
Agave236 spp.
Dracaena224 spp.
Ornithogalum223 spp.
Chlorophytum216 spp.
Asparagus211 spp.
Albuca172 spp.
Lachenalia141 spp.
Drimia130 spp.
Eriospermum114 spp.
Ophiopogon92 spp.
Polygonatum88 spp.
Scilla88 spp.
Echeandia85 spp.
Muscari85 spp.
Bellevalia81 spp.
Peliosanthes81 spp.
Ledebouria70 spp.
Lomandra69 spp.
Thysanotus59 spp.
Yucca57 spp.
Dipcadi44 spp.
Maianthemum41 spp.
Tupistra39 spp.
Manfreda38 spp.
Nolina35 spp.
Rohdea34 spp.
Massonia33 spp.
Hosta31 spp.
Cordyline26 spp.
Furcraea26 spp.
Dasylirion23 spp.
Polianthes23 spp.
Drimiopsis22 spp.
Brodiaea18 spp.
Hyacinthella18 spp.
Prospero17 spp.
Triteleia17 spp.
Arthropodium16 spp.
Milla16 spp.
Eucomis14 spp.
Fessia14 spp.
Beaucarnea13 spp.
Heteropolygonatum13 spp.
Hyacinthoides13 spp.
Laxmannia13 spp.
Echinoagave12 spp.
Disporopsis11 spp.
Beschorneria10 spp.
Anthericum9 spp.
Liriope9 spp.
Daubenya8 spp.
Herreria8 spp.
Hesperaloe8 spp.
Ruscus8 spp.
Acanthocarpus7 spp.
Puschkinia7 spp.
Camassia6 spp.
Hagenbachia6 spp.
Resnova6 spp.
The 66 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Africa1,408
- Asia-Temperate867
- Northern America615
- Asia-Tropical470
- Australasia198
- Europe192
- Southern America154
- Pacific16
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Asparagaceae sits in the order Asparagales.
- OrchidaceaeOrchids (largest plant family)31,892
- IridaceaeIrises, crocus, gladiolus, freesia2,632
- AmaryllidaceaeAmaryllis, daffodil, onion, garlic2,571
- AsphodelaceaeAloe, daylily, red-hot poker1,269
- HypoxidaceaeStar grasses166
- Asteliaceae37
- TecophilaeaceaeChilean blue crocus27
- BoryaceaePincushion lilies13
- IxioliriaceaeSiberian lily5
- BlandfordiaceaeChristmas bells4
- DoryanthaceaeSpear lilies2
- XeronemataceaePoor Knights lily2
- LanariaceaeCape edelweiss1