Aspidistra elatior

RHS Plant Profile
bar room plant

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Aspidistra elatior?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
bar room plant visionspictures.com
bar room plant visionspictures.com

Other common names

cast iron plant, common aspidistra

Synonyms

Aspidistra insularis

Award of Garden Merit
Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £109.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
17 Suppliers

An evergreen rhizomatous perennial to 60cm, with glossy dark green, leathery, lance-shaped leaves and inconspicuous dull brownish-cream flowers borne at soil level in early summer

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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
Correct
Plant Range
Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass or in frost-free enviroment. Tolerant of some neglect

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, thrips and vine weevil

Diseases

Generally disease-free