Aspidistra elatior 'Milky Way' (v)
bar-room plant 'Milky Way'
A clump-forming, evergreen perennial, prized for its 50cm long, broadly lance-shaped leaves, which are dark green with small white dots. Although most often grown as a houseplant, it is also a useful garden plant in mild areas, and is tolerant of shade
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green White | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green White | |||
| Autumn | Green White | |||
| Winter | Green White |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Aspidistra are rhizomatous, evergreen perennials with upright, leathery, elliptic or lance-shaped leaves and inconspicuous brownish flowers borne on the rhizome
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
As a houseplant, grow in large pots of loam-based compost. Although tolerant of deep shade, growth is best in bright, filtered light with a minimum temperature of 7°C. Water moderately in growth and apply a balanced liquid feed 2-3 times during the growing season; variegated cultivars revert to green if overfed. Outdoors grow in moist but well-drained, fertile, sandy loam with added leaf mould, in a sheltered site with full or partial shade. See houseplants advice profile for further information
Propagation
Propagate by division
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Low Maintenance
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Flower borders and beds
- Ground cover
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and vine weevil larvae
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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