About
Aspidistra minutiflora 'Leopard' is a resilient, evergreen perennial that forms dense clumps through its rhizomatous growth. It features elongated, lanceolate leaves that are glossy and dark green, adorned with prominent golden-yellow spots. In the spring and summer, this plant occasionally produces small, subtle star-shaped flowers that are greenish-yellow with purple centers, emerging near the base. While it is commonly cultivated as a houseplant, it also serves well in outdoor gardens in temperate climates, thriving in shady spots and tolerating drier soil conditions.
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
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
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; variegated cultivars revert to green if overfed. Outdoors grow in moist but well-drained, fertile, sandy loam with added leaf mould, in a sheltered site with full or partial shade. See houseplant cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and vine weevil larvae
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free