Asphodel Plantation is an historic 126-acre antebellum estate located in Louisiana. Asphodel Plantation's significance is due to four points:

Architecture	Outstanding example of antebellum Louisiana's unique interpretation of Greek revival residential architecture.
Civil War Battle Site	The Battle of Karr's Creek, an armed conflict that was part of the Battle of Port Hudson, took place at Asphodel. The house is surrounded by remnants of fortifications that were built to protect the house. They are currently being restored.
Cemetery	The Asphodel cemetery is the only private residential cemetery in Louisiana listed on the National Historic Register. Established in the 1830's with the entombment of Benjamin and Carolyn Kendrick, the cemetery contains the remains of every deceased owner of Asphodel. Asphodel's cemetery has been listed on the National Register's List of Historic Burial Sites.
John James Audubon	He tutored the owner's daughter and sketched local wildlife here.

Asphodel's location is in an area so beautiful that it moved the famous naturalist John James Aubudon to remark that it was "a place where nature seems to have paused, as she passed over the earth, and opening her stores, to have strewed with unsparing hand the diversified seeds from which have sprung all the beauty and splendid forms which I should in vain attempt to describe".

Asphodel Plantation was established in 1820 by Benjamin and Carolyn Kendrick who had migrated to Louisiana from North Carolina. Asphodel Plantation's land was obtained by the Kendricks through a Spanish land grant--the original size of the property was nearly 5000 acres.

Asphodel was named by the Kendricks after the Greek word for daffodil (also known as "Narcissus"). To this day these flowers grow abundantly on the property.

The major crop at Asphodel was cotton. The combination of Ashpodel's highly productive land and excellent access to transportation to major cotton markets in Europe and the Eastern United States allowed Asphodel to become a very profitable plantation. In the pre-civil wars years of 1840 to 1863, more than half the U. S. millionaries were living between Natchez, Mississippi and New Orleans. Asphodel is centrally located in this region. The opportunities for wealth attracted entrepreneurs from Europe and the East coast of the U.S.

Asphodel Plantation is located in East Feliciana parish, Louisiana. This parish, and neighboring West Feliciana parish, was the cultural and political center of the Florida parishes (the term "Florida parishes" refers to a number of parishes in northeast Louisiana). West Feliciana parish, with its center at St. Francisville, has always been the predominant parish. East Feliciana parish, with its center at Clinton and an additional agricultural center at Jackson, had great wealth from agriculture, but never acheived the politial and cultural influence of West Feliciana parish.

A vital influence to both parishes was the Mississippi river. The river and its tributaries provided the key transportation routes for commerence. The Mississippi River borders West Feliciana parish and its major antebellum ports were Bayou Sara, St. Francisville, and Port Hudson (site of the Battle of Port Hudson). The major tributaries in the Felicianas that provided access to the Mississippi were Bayou Sara and Thompson's creek. Asphodel Plantation bordered Thompson's creek. An important smaller tributary, Karr's creek, bisected the plantation. In the later part of the antebullum period railroads were introduced to more efficiently transport crops to the Mississippi River. Two major railroads were built in East Feliciana parish: the Clinton Port Hudson railroad and the Jackson Port Hudson railroad. Both railroads terminated at the Mississippi River at Port Hudson. The Jackson Port Hudson railroad had a right-of-way through the plantation.

Asphodel was the most important plantation in East Feliciana parish and rivaled the major plantations in West Feliciana parish. As the Kendricks' wealth grew, so did Asphodel. In 1822 the Kendricks began building the main house. This contruction continued over a ten year period. The Kendricks' only surviving child Isobel inherited the property in 1832 and, with her husband John Fluker, was responsible for the final additions to the main house. No further significant changes were made to the house, and what stands today is as Isobel lived in it.

The famous American naturalist and painter of wildlife John James Audubon lived at neighboring Oakley plantation during the 1820's. To support himself while painting, Audubon tutored the children of local plantation owners. Isobel Kendrick, daughter of Benjamin and Carolyn, was one of Audubon's students. While the children typically traveled to Oakley for Audubon's lessons, he often visited Asphodel to personally teach Isobel. It is believed that a number of his paintings (some published in "Birds of America") were based on sketches done while at Asphodel.

The main house at Asphodel Plantation is one of Louisiana's finest examples of antebellum architecture. It is an American Greek Revival with a strong Louisiana colonial influence. The architecture is unique and is considered by architectural historians as one of Louisiana's most significant homes.

Since its establishment in 1820, Asphodel Plantation has had six owners.

Benjamin Kendrick's papers are located at Louisiana State University's Hill Library in Baton Rouge. Kendrick is also listed on Hill Library's overview of African American History.

A complete restoration took place during 1998-1999. The work included a total restoration of the home, the two guest houses, and the pool house. A new four car garage was built adjacent to the house.

Several years back, an effort was made to develop Asphodel into a luxury golf resort. Golf Magazine published a report on these plans. The National Golf Foundation also published a report which referenced these plans.

Plantation Country's write-up also references Asphodel.

All major books on Louisiana plantations make reference to Asphodel.

Several movies were filmed at Asphodel, including "The Long, Hot Summer", starring Paul Newman, Orsen Wells, and Joanne Woodward.

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