Aspidistra elatior Zebra - Cast-Iron Plant

Aspidistra eliator 'Zebra' elegantly reinvents this green plant from the somewhat conventional interiors of the 1950s, where it vied for attention with Sanseveria, the other staple of former generations. This tall Aspidistra, with its silky and shiny leaves streaked with cream-white, makes for a very bright evergreen ground cover in partially shaded areas of the garden, especially under large trees that provide the leaf litter it thrives on. A rhizomatous perennial, Aspidistra spreads slowly but is highly resistant to cold and even drought once well established. It flowers, curiously enough, at ground level, hiding its fleshy brownish-purple flowers like treasure beneath its foliage. Place it at the base of trees, along pathways, in pots on the terrace or balcony, and let yourself be seduced.

Aspidistra eliator Zebra is a plant from the Convallariaceae family, along with lily of the valley and Liriope muscari, both known for their incredible robustness. Its ancestor is native to Taiwan and Japan, specifically the undergrowth of the Osumi Peninsula, from where it was 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 homes, where it proved to be resilient and highly adaptable, in fact with almost no requirements. This tall Aspidistra is capable of regrowing from the stump after experiencing temperatures as low as -12/-15 °C (10.4/5 °F) and tolerates dry shade very well as long as it receives some light.

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, with almost non-existent stems. It forms a dense cluster of leaves, about 55 cm (22 in) in all directions, more or less depending on the soil's fertility, slowly spreading to form large colonies over time. Its growth is quite slow, and it never becomes invasive. Its leaves persist throughout winter. They are lanceolate and leathery, pointed at the tip, measuring 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) in length and approximately 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) in width. They are covered in silky hairs, light green when young and becoming dark green in summer. To see the cream-white stripes on the lamina, it may be necessary to wait at least two to three years for the plant to mature. Flowering takes place in early summer, on mature plants, at the base of leaf tufts. The flowers emerge from ovoid violet buds. They open into fleshy cups with 8 tapered lobes. The exterior is cream-white speckled with brown-violet, while the interior displays a very dark brown-violet to purple colour. The flowering is followed by the formation of small spherical dark berries.

More typically found at florists than in nursery aisles, Aspidistra eliator is actually an extremely robust perennial plant whose qualities are being rediscovered, but this time in the garden. Much more decorative than the usual species, the 'Zebra' cultivar deserves better than dark corridors and dusty corners. It is a bright, versatile, and remarkable 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 light woodland, at the base of trees, as an edging to highlight the design of a pathway, in rock gardens alongside heathers, for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. It can accompany hostas, ferns, geranium phaeum, Epimedium, or ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), for example. It is a plant that grows very well in pots, on a windowsill or a partially shaded balcony. It is so accommodating that it forgives neglectful watering and thrives in gardens without gardeners or in weekend gardens.