Aspidistra elatior is an old-fashioned house plant, which was probably more popular in the 19th century than it is now. At first sight, it does not seem to have a lot to offer. It has no noticeable bloom, and it is rather awkward looking. However it is a plant that is particularly undemanding, extremely reliable and easy to grow. I have grown to like it more and more as time goes by.
First of all, I do not believe there is a plant that can tolerate more neglect. If you forget to water it for a whole month, it won't be noticeable affected. I don't know how long it would take for the foliage to start drying up, but it would certainly be months. I call it a house plant, because it cannot survive our severe winters outside, but it is hardy to - 5 C which means it would survive most winters in a zone 8 garden. The common name, cast-iron plant, refers to the fact that it is hard to kill an Aspidistra
It is listed as a shade plant, but you could say it is the queen of shade plants, because it will stay good looking for months far from any window in a dark room. In fact, in winter I put mine to rest. Every November, I store the plant in an unheated cellar (where it can get to as low as -2 C), and it only comes out of there in April. When it comes out, it has been 4 and a half months without any watering and, for the same period, has survived in complete darkness. Every year it emerges from that cellar looking exactly as it did when it was put in!
I knew it would survive in a dark cellar as a French friend of mine told me her mother grew a whole row of aspidistras in pots and just stored these pots in a garage in winter.
Unfortunately, it does not grow very fast, perhaps adding at most a couple of leaves a year. This probably explains why, in Victorian England (where the Apidistra was a symbol of the empire), it was said that each leaf meant the family had £1000 in the bank. The fact that it grows slowly is fine if you don't want to have to re-pot your plant every year but if, as I do, you want to increase it, it takes a long time. The fact that it is so slow to grow makes it more expensive to buy, if or when you can find it. Mine, which I got as a small section from a friend, has never bloomed - or I have never noticed the bloom which grows at the base like in wild ginger. It is extremely easy to grow. Its only requirement is that the soil be well-drained.
Not surprisingly, it has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
First of all, I do not believe there is a plant that can tolerate more neglect. If you forget to water it for a whole month, it won't be noticeable affected. I don't know how long it would take for the foliage to start drying up, but it would certainly be months. I call it a house plant, because it cannot survive our severe winters outside, but it is hardy to - 5 C which means it would survive most winters in a zone 8 garden. The common name, cast-iron plant, refers to the fact that it is hard to kill an Aspidistra
It is listed as a shade plant, but you could say it is the queen of shade plants, because it will stay good looking for months far from any window in a dark room. In fact, in winter I put mine to rest. Every November, I store the plant in an unheated cellar (where it can get to as low as -2 C), and it only comes out of there in April. When it comes out, it has been 4 and a half months without any watering and, for the same period, has survived in complete darkness. Every year it emerges from that cellar looking exactly as it did when it was put in!
I knew it would survive in a dark cellar as a French friend of mine told me her mother grew a whole row of aspidistras in pots and just stored these pots in a garage in winter.
Unfortunately, it does not grow very fast, perhaps adding at most a couple of leaves a year. This probably explains why, in Victorian England (where the Apidistra was a symbol of the empire), it was said that each leaf meant the family had £1000 in the bank. The fact that it grows slowly is fine if you don't want to have to re-pot your plant every year but if, as I do, you want to increase it, it takes a long time. The fact that it is so slow to grow makes it more expensive to buy, if or when you can find it. Mine, which I got as a small section from a friend, has never bloomed - or I have never noticed the bloom which grows at the base like in wild ginger. It is extremely easy to grow. Its only requirement is that the soil be well-drained.
Not surprisingly, it has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
As you say Alain it is very undemanding. I like the leaves in flower bouquets, it givves them a noble something.
ReplyDelete4 months in the dark ? I knew it could survive almost everything but not to that point.
I've seen a variegated form exists, it may need a little bit more light to keep its panachage.
A bientôt
This is the type of plant that beginners/novices need in order to get use to looking after them. They are hardy and easy going and will look great year after year as they add leaves and grow nicely.
ReplyDeleteDo you suppose they might be included in a funerary pot? I've had one of them, once upon a time, I believe. I also think I gave it to a friend. Must check.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the old song "The biggest Apidistra in the world" by Gracie Fields.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a plant that could live a very, very long time. It grows slowly, puts up with all sorts of neglect, and is smart enough not to be as tasty as its cousin the asparagus.
ReplyDeleteI have an aspidistra that came from my grandmother, who got it from a piece of my other grandmmother's plant. My sister has a couple of plants from it too. Mine once did flower and I keep looking for it to flower again as I never thought to take a photo.
ReplyDeleteI planted mine out in the garden when we came here, but sadly, it died. I haven't seen any for sale since then, so will just have to manage without.
ReplyDeleteYours looks far better than mine, which is planted outside in zone 7b. It is actually hardy in zone 7b, but in my opinion it looks awful outside everywhere north of a very secure zone 8. Trust me - it looks better in a pot.
ReplyDeleteYou never see them for sale nowadays. My grandmother used to have one and I inherited it. I am ashamed to say I neglected it and it died. But I was young and had more exciting things than Aspidistras on my mind.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will see if I can find one. Yours does look good in its pot.
I agree, Alain. I usually do not notice aspidistra between other house plant. But this spring: surprise! It started blooming. Now I love it.
ReplyDeleteI tend to avoid houseplants but do have a Christmas cactus given to me by a friend that is quite happy. But I think the cast iron plant and I would get along well. However, I would look for one with multiple leaves and hope my bank account took the hint. :o)
ReplyDeleteI especially like it with the backdrop of books! Snake plant is my favorite for low maintenance. (Sansevieria)
ReplyDelete