Mary Washington

Mary Washington is the classic American heirloom asparagus, developed in the early 1900s by the USDA from the older Washington strains bred for rust resistance. For decades it was the standard home-garden asparagus across North America and remains widely grown from seed and crowns. It is an open-pollinated variety producing both male and female plants, so beds self-seed over time. Spears are medium-thick, deep green with purple-tinged tips, and the crowns are vigorous and long-lived, often productive for 15 to 20 years once established. Because it is not an all-male hybrid, yields are somewhat lower than modern Jersey types, but many gardeners still prize it for its reliability, adaptability to varied soils, and traditional flavor. It performs well in USDA zones 3 to 8.