Aspidistra elatior - Cast-Iron Plant

Aspidistra eliator is the green plant of somewhat conventional interiors of the 1950s, where it competed for popularity with Sanseveria. This tall Aspidistra, easier to find at florists than in nursery aisles, is actually an extremely robust Asian perennial plant whose qualities are being rediscovered, but this time in the garden: who would believe that this tuft of evergreen, dark green and shiny leaves can withstand frost and grow as a ground cover in the dry shade of large trees? Who would suspect that it flowers, curiously, at ground level, hiding its fleshy flowers of a brown-violet colour like treasure under its foliage? This almost foolproof plant deserves better than dark corridors and dusty corners: it will elegantly adorn the base of trees, borders, and pots on the terrace or balcony.

Aspidistra eliator is a plant from the Convallariaceae family, just like lily of the valley and Liriope muscari, which are known for their incredible robustness. This tall Aspidistra is native to Taiwan and Japan, specifically the undergrowth of the Osumi Peninsula, from where it has been widely introduced to China. It arrived in Great Britain in the 19th century, conquering Victorian interiors, and gradually made its way into French and European salons where it proved remarkably resistant and adaptable, in reality almost without any particular requirements. It is capable of regrowing from the stump after experiencing temperatures as low as -12 °C (10.4 °F) and tolerates water scarcity once established. Such qualities have earned it the highest award from the Royal Horticultural Society: an Award of Garden Merit.

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, with almost nonexistent stems. It forms a dense cluster of leaves, about 35-45 cm (14-18 in) in all directions, slowly expanding to eventually form large dark patches. Its growth is quite slow, and it never becomes invasive. Its persistent leaves are lanceolate and leathery, measuring about 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) in length and 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) in width. They are glossy and light green when they emerge, becoming very dark green in summer. Flowering occurs in early summer, on mature plants, at the base of the leaf clusters. The flowers emerge from ovoid violet buds. They open into fleshy cups with a wax-like appearance composed of 8 tapering lobes. Their colour is cream-white with brown-violet speckles on the outside, while the inside displays a very dark brown-violet shade. The flowering is followed by the formation of small spherical and dark berries.

It is a discreet but versatile and very useful plant in dry and shaded areas of the garden. Its great resistance to these difficult conditions allows it to be used in many situations: in the undergrowth, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a path, in rockeries alongside heathers, for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. It will accompany hostas, ferns, dusky cranesbill, Epimedium, or ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), for example. It is a plant that naturally grows very well in pots, on a windowsill or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive neglectful watering and thrive in gardens without gardeners, or in weekend gardens.