Aspidistra, aka the unkillable cast-iron plant
Aspidistra (botanical name: Aspidistra elatior) is a brilliant starter houseplant and a great choice if you're looking for a low-maintenance green companion. Commonly known as the cast-iron plant, this houseplant is about as indestructible as a cast-iron pan (hence its name). It's so tough it can often survive where other plants can't: it grows well in low light, doesn't require much water and isn't fussy about temperature either.
‘If you struggle to keep houseplants alive, give this unkillable houseplant a go,’ says houseplant expert Tony Le-Britton (@notanotherjungle), who reveals how to keep your cast-iron plant happy and thriving in House Beautiful's new video series, Plants With Impact (watch the video above). ‘It was once one of the most popular houseplants in the world. It was loved by the Victorians and actually seen as a status symbol.'
Discover how to keep your cast-iron plant happy, when to repot, and how to propagate in the video above
As an evergreen perennial, aspidistra is instantly recognisable by its arching, glossy green leaves. 'Aspidistra grow wild in Japan and Taiwan in really harsh environments. It spreads using a spreading rhizome (an underground stem), which goes underneath the soil, also making it more unkillable because even if the leaves get damaged, the rhizome will reshoot and regrow,' explains Tony.
The cast-iron plant is now back in fashion as an excellent choice for modern homes because of its unfussy nature. 'It's great in a really dark, shady spot, it can be allowed to dry out and it's pretty resilient when it comes to being overwatered too, so there's not a lot you can do to this plant to kill it,' Tony adds.
Here's how to ensure it thrives...
Aspidistra at a glance
• Botanical name: Aspidistra elatior
• Pronunciation: Ass-pih-dih-struh ell-ah-tee-or
• Other names: Cast-iron plant, bar room plant
• Height and growth rate: It's slow growing. It can grow to 60cm high and spread to 30cm
• Light: Keep your aspidistra out of direct sunshine – direct sun will scorch its leaves
• Watering: This plant is fairly tolerant of drought. Only water when the first couple of inches of soil feel dry
• Temperature: It will grow from -15 degrees all the way up to about 40-45 degrees Celsius
• Toxicity to pets: Non-toxic
• Plant parent level: As the cast-iron plant is exceptionally low maintenance, it's an ideal pick for beginner plant parents.
Fun fact: Aspidistra usually only flowers when grown outside, producing small purple and cream blooms at its base. But don't let the lack of flowers put you off – this is a steady and reliable slow grower which will flourish all on its own.
How to care for aspidistra
Light
Think low, indirect light for your aspidistra –it's shade-tolerant. Strong direct light can burn and bleach this plant's leaves, so be cautious.
Watering
One of the great things about aspidistra elatior is how forgiving it is. 'Although it doesn't mind being too wet or too dry in short bursts, ideally wait for the first couple of inches to dry out,' advises Tony.
You should check the condition of the soil weekly by using your fingers. 'Just pop your fingers inside and when the first couple of inches feel dry, it's then time to be watered. Water from the top really thoroughly and allow the water to drain right through before you pop it back in its display pot, so it's never sitting in water – that would cause root rot,' Tony continues.
Temperature
Aspidistra can tolerate a range of temperatures from -10C – 45C. They do prefer to be kept on the warmer side but can tolerate much cooler conditions if necessary.
Feeding
Feed year-round with a houseplant fertiliser to keep it growing strong and healthy. 'Although it could last a long time without being fed, I'd recommend feeding it every other watering, along with the rest of your houseplants,' advises Tony.
Repotting
Only repot when the plant has filled the entire pot with roots. 'When repotting you can propagate your aspidistra by division by cutting or snapping sections of the rhizome and potting those up separately from the motherplant,' Tony explains. Watch the video above for a full step-by-step.
Maintenance
The cast-iron plant is so laidback that there's very little maintenance involved. A good tip is to shower or wipe the leaves down with water to prevent a build up of dust and pests.
Common problems with aspidistra elatior (and how to fix them)
Common creepy crawlies: The cast-iron plant rarely succumbs to pests, but can be slightly susceptible to common household bugs such as scale, mites and mealybugs. If this happens, gently rinsing the foliage can be enough to dislodge the intruders.
Leaves turning brown: If parts of or even entire leaves of this plant turn brown, it's likely that your cast-iron plant is getting too much sun. Keep an eye on your plants throughout the day to see how much light they get, and relocate to a shadier spot if needed.
Brown leaf tips: Separate to browning due to excess sunlight, having brown leaf tips could be down to your plant being under or overwatered. Always check how dry the soil is before watering (it should be dry until you poke down a few inches into the pot) and ensure that the container has sufficient drainage.
• Video by Adrift Visuals / illustrations by Andrea Turvey
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