Iron Plant Aspidistra elatior
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ass-pih-DIS-trah eh-LAY-tee-or
- Description
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Cast iron plant is an evergreen, rhizomatous perennial reaching up to 2' in upright clumps. It is a good specimen for planting in dense shade. It makes a good evergreen "hosta substitute", especially for low light areas as well as indoors in pots. There are some variegated cultivars. It is called barroom plant because of its ability to withstand spittoonish conditions and iron plant due to its ability to withstand neglect. It is frequently utilized in exterior landscapes down south.
Cast iron plants prefer partial to full shade and are intolerant of direct sun. It needs rich, well-drained soil and is drought tolerant, though it can tolerate dry and nutrient-poor soils as well as a variety of soil textures. Water regularly spring to autumn, during droughts, sparingly in winter. Keep sheltered from winter winds.
These plants grow well in containers and will spread if planted in the ground within their hardiness zone. They can be used as an accent or groundcover to fill in shady spaces.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious pest problems. This plant is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect, gigantic, coriaceous leaves with parallel** venations
- Evergreen ground cover, it spreads by rhizomes
- Petioles 7"-12" long, hosta-like leaves
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Shade Garden Coastal Shady Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Asahi'
White, air-brushed tips - 'China Star'
Heavily speckled 8 to 10' long by 2.5' wide leaves - 'Goldfeather'
Yellow-gold striping across the length of the leaves - 'Goldspike'
A single yellow stripe down the upper-middle of each leaf - 'Milky Way'
Small white spots - Okame
Irregular white streaks along the length of the leaves - 'Variegata'
White striping on leaves
- 'Asahi'
- 'Asahi', 'China Star', 'Goldfeather', 'Goldspike', 'Milky Way', Okame, 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Asahi'
White, air-brushed tips - 'China Star'
Heavily speckled 8 to 10' long by 2.5' wide leaves - 'Goldfeather'
Yellow-gold striping across the length of the leaves - 'Goldspike'
A single yellow stripe down the upper-middle of each leaf - 'Milky Way'
Small white spots - Okame
Irregular white streaks along the length of the leaves - 'Variegata'
White striping on leaves
- 'Asahi'
- 'Asahi', 'China Star', 'Goldfeather', 'Goldspike', 'Milky Way', Okame, 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aspidistra
- Species:
- elatior
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Insignificant
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- A single-seeded, fleshy berry. Rarely goes to fruit.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blooms very rarely, though will bloom in early summer if it does. The 8-lobed cup-shaped flowers are fleshy and grow close to the ground. It needs higher light levels in order to flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal, erect, long-petiolate, solitary, evergreen leaves. The shape is ovate to lanceolate to elliptic, apex acute, margins entire, surface glabrous with 16-20 parallel veins. The texture is leathery and the color is dark green to reddish-purple to variegated. Petioles are up to 7"-12" long, and the entire leaf often reaches 20"-24" long. Leaves extend directly out of the ground.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Acaulescent; what appear to be stems are actually the petioles of the leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Poor Soil
- Salt
