Aspidistra elatior 'Lennon's Song' (v)
A clump-forming, upright, rhizomatous, evergreen perennial with long, broadly lance-shaped semi-glossy dark green leaves. Each leaf has a central golden-yellow stripe Rarely, maroon-red, star-shaped flowers appear at the base of the plant in spring to summer. Although most often grown as a houseplant, it is also a useful garden plant in mild areas, and is tolerant of shade and drier conditions
Buy this plant
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 | Red | Green Gold Yellow | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Red | Green Gold Yellow | ||
Autumn | Green Gold Yellow | |||
Winter | Green Gold Yellow |
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 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
As a houseplant, grow in large pots of peat-free, 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 houseplant cultivation for further information
Propagation
Propagate by division
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Houseplants
- Patio and container plants
- Low Maintenance
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Flower borders and beds
- Ground cover
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and vine weevil larvae
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.