Index

The A&M   
Garden Club 

Recent
History

Flower Sh
 FS 02
 FS 03
 FS 04 
 FS 05
 FS 06

Links

Gardening 
Calendar 
 Jan
 Feb
 Mar
 April
 May
 June
 July
 Aug
 Sept
 Oct
 Nov
 Dec

History
1936-46

1946 -51 

1951-56

1956 -66 

1966 -76 

1976-86 

1986 -96 
   '94-95 
   '95-96

1996 -2002
  
2002-2007

  ---------

WHAT'S NEW IN HORT. - FEBRUARY 2007

ASPIDISTRA elatior  (Cast Iron Plant)

Most people know aspidistra merely as an unobtrusive evergreen foliage plant.  During World War II, the British chose potted aspidistras to take into bomb shelters to lend a homey touch during the long waits.  In Victoria England, aspidistra became known as the “Cast Iron” plant of bank and hotel lobbies because it could survive neglect, cold drafts, summer heat, or being watered with brandy snifter remains and mulched with cigar stubs!  In China and Japan , aspidistra has long been popular as a foliage plant, with the leaves becoming indispensable to Ikebana and other flower arranging disciplines. 

The monocot Aspidistra is part of the lily family, Liliaceae, often placed in the sub-family Ruscaceae family, which has priority over Convallariaceae.  It must be considered a genus in flux, with many new species being found and documented in the biodiversity “hotspot” in Guangxi Province , China .  They have a reputation of being “boring” plants, however given the right growing conditions they are lovely and interesting plants.  Little known is the fact that they bear flowers at or below soil level, and sometimes need to be partially excavated to see them properly.  The flowers are often vividly colored and with 6 to 14 lobes they can look like little stranded starfish.  It is now thought that a tiny pollinator must be involved, such as fungus gnats or tiny terrestrial crustaceans called amphipods are really responsible for pollination, rather than slugs and snails as previously thought. Watch for new species in the future, even with variegated and spotted leaves.  The Brooklyn Botanical Garden website is a great source of information for this plant.

Helen Quinn