Aspidistra elatior, also known as Cast Iron Plant, was a popular house plant in drafty dark Victorian parlors. I suppose they liked them in bright parlors with no drafts but the literature doesn't say anything about that. Anyway, these are really tough plants that almost rival sansevierias for toughness. Sansevierias can go for a very long time without water, don't know if Aspidistras can but both can take a lot of abuse and lack of light.
While lovely growing in the ground, it sometimes looks a little sporadic in where it pops up. I like growing it in pots outside. This works well for me because the heavily timber bamboo laden soil in the area where I have this pot is pretty hostile ground for other plants.
Native to China and Japan, cast iron plant gets its common name from its ability to survive significant cultural abuse. It is an easily-maintained, stemless, evergreen foliage plant that typically grows to 3’ tall. Arching, lanceolate, glossy dark green leaves (to 24” long and 4” wide) rise up directly from its fleshy rootstock on long stems. Insignificant creamy-purple flowers may appear at soil level in spring, but usually do not form on houseplants. Leaves benefit from occasional washing.
Common Name: cast-iron plant
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ruscaceae
Zone: 8 to 10 (some sites say zone 7b)
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Description: Creamy purple
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Evergreen
Tolerate: Drought, Heavy Shade
Aspidistra elatior variegata is looking fresh and happy even after our big freeze.
This was Loree's favorite plant in December of 2012. You can visit her post about it here. To see some wonderful varieties including one that I'm going to try to get from Plant Delights Nursery, go here. And whatever you do, go to Danger Garden here to check out favorite plants of other garden bloggers taking part in the favorite plant meme this week.