Mary Washington Asparagus
Aspargus officinalis 'Mary Washington'
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Mary Washington Asparagus - 8 Pack Bulbs is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Mary Washington Asparagus highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer

Growing Zones 3-7
Growing asparagus is a joy for gardeners of all ages and skill levels, and with Mary Washington Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis 'Mary Washington'), this joy becomes a true treat. Mary Washington Asparagus is a matriarch of the Asparagus world. With this heirloom Asparagus, you will enjoy both gardening success and delicious dishes year after year. If you're looking for delectable spears with a heavier yield, cast your vote for this American classic.
Mary Washington Asparagus is a semi-hardy perennial garden favorite, beloved for its buttery and robust flavor and later emerging fern-like foliage. Compared to other varieties, Mary Washington grows with thick stalks that bunch closely together for a better harvest. They also maintain a straight and attractive shape, making for a delightfully attractive plating preparation. This tasty variety produces enough Asparagus crowns to keep your family dining on nutritious greens from spring into early summer. These sturdy stalks keep their body when steamed for that fresh-picked snap when you bite into them.
Do you pick up a pack of asparagus every time you find it on sale? Or is it your go-to side for an elegant date night home? Skip the grocery checkout and price tag of store-bought Asparagus by growing your own. When you harvest your own Asparagus, you'll be gifting yourself the opportunity to try out some new preparations without breaking the bank. Of course, these naturally buttery spears are great steamed with a dash of salt, but we recommend you try your Mary Washington Asparagus in a cheesy omelet.
Planting and Application:
If you plant Mary Washington bareroot 1-foot apart, you can quickly fill in your Asparagus bed and produce enough Asparagus to share with any friends or family with a penchant for healthy and tasty veggies. Its attractive appearance and heavier yield make it ornamental and practical for the veggie garden or kitchen garden. This perennial vegetable will return fuller and healthier year after year, often producing tasty Asparagus for up to thirty years.
In fact, the fern-like beauty of these lovely Asparagus tubers is reason alone to add some to your garden. This renowned cultivar is ideal for small home gardens because they produce prolifically without taking up excessive gardening space. Use your Mary Washington Asparagus as a tall and whimsical perennial back border or foundation planting. Its bright green sets off deeper forest greens, violets, and reds.
After harvest season comes to an end, your Asparagus will reach waist height and fan out in fine, bright green foliage. These feathery, wispy beauties sway and shimmy gracefully in the breeze. Most charming of all, the Mary Washington's fine arching and intricate branches glow in the sunshine, creating a riveting spritely scene. While this garden veggie doesn't produce the showiest flowers, many flower aficionados use its foliage in flower arrangements. These fine and slender branches add texture, liveliness, and movement to bouquets and flower displays.
- Heavier Yield of Lovely Green Spears
- Tender, Buttery Flavor
- Ornamental & Attractive
- Heirloom Variety with Great Reputation!
- Airy Green Foliage if not Harvested
#ProPlantTips for Care:
If you're new to growing Asparagus, prepare to be delighted! This unique bareroot tuber produces abundant edible stalks on each root system. Mary Washington Asparagus thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. They often prefer a deeper planting of about 6-10 inches. Give them space to spread (about two feet). Water them well when first transplanted.
You will want to plant your rhizomes with the crown of buds facing upward and the roots reaching downward. Mary Washington Asparagus spears often reach impressive heights for harvest and elegant lengths when allowed to go to seed - giving you more plants year after year! For better longevity, allow them to establish for a year or two before harvesting.
Once your Asparagus roots have established sometime after the first full year, when your Asparagus spears emerge, wait for them to reach about a foot in height before cutting these shoots just below the soil surface. Each crown will continue to produce more spears from spring into early summer, so check back often.
Stop cutting the spears by late June or by July 1st to let them grow, this will give the foliage the opportunity to revitalize the root system for next year's harvest. Cut your Asparagus to the ground in late fall after the foliage has browned.
- Full Sun
- Average to Sandy Well-Drained Soil
- Regular Moisture Needs
- Very Cold & Heat-Tolerant
- Prune Back Unharvested Foliage in Late Autumn
- Disease Resistant & Low-Maintenance
Mary Washington Asparagus is an old, reliable variety that will give you years of fresh and tender Asparagus. Treat yourself to one of the best varieties of tasty green Asparagus you can find. Order your fantastic edible landscaping plants today at NatureHills.com!