About
Aspidistra lurida is a rhizomatous perennial recognized for its shiny, deep green foliage that can reach lengths of 50 cm. This plant is well-suited for indoor environments, thriving in low light and adapting to varying temperatures while requiring minimal care. In milder climates, it can also be cultivated outdoors as a garden specimen.
About the genus
Aspidistra are perennial plants that grow from rhizomes, characterized by their upright, leathery leaves which can be either elliptic or lanceolate in shape. Their flowers, which are brownish and not particularly noticeable, develop directly from the rhizome.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand, Chalk, Clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Houseplants, Patio and container plants
Care notes
- 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. Outdoors grow in moist but well-drained, fertile, sandy loam with added leaf mould, in a sheltered site with full or partial shade. See houseplants advice profile for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and vine weevil larvae
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free