About
Aspidistra sichuanensis 'Despot' is a robust, clump-forming perennial that features long, narrow leaves shaped like broad lance heads, showcasing a glossy dark green finish adorned with pale yellow speckles. In late summer to autumn, it may produce small, subtle star-shaped purple flowers near the base, although these blooms are not a focal point. While commonly cultivated indoors, this plant can thrive in gardens located in temperate regions, demonstrating resilience to shady environments and 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