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Author Topic: Aspidistra, cast iron plants  (Read 11140 times)

Alberto

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Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« on: January 19, 2008, 09:42:52 AM »
Hi All.
Aspidistra is a neglected genus but the more known Aspidistra elatior. The latter is frost hardy but little is known about the other species. Since  a few year I am collecting species from this genus and I'd like to share with a few images of the flowers, just blooming now. Anyone of you grow different species? a few are little suitable for pot gardening.
Ciao Alberto
 
« Last Edit: January 19, 2008, 10:15:10 AM by Alberto »
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Hans J

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Re: Aspiditra, cast iron plants
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2008, 09:56:36 AM »
Alberto ,

Great to see this interesting plants !!!
Please send more pics of this genus .....

Ciao
Hans
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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2008, 01:49:05 PM »
Thanks for showing us these flowers.  I have one in my house but have never looked at the base to see if it flowers.  I'll have to watch now.  Its just A. elatior but a variegated form.  Sometimes the leaves emerge almost pure white.
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Chris Boulby
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Hans J

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2008, 01:55:57 PM »
Quote from: ChrisB on January 19, 2008, 01:49:05 PM
Thanks for showing us these flowers.  I have one in my house but have never looked at the base to see if it flowers.  I'll have to watch now.  Its just A. elatior but a variegated form.  Sometimes the leaves emerge almost pure white.

Hi Chris B

I'm also collecting a bit Aspidistra .....I searching since a long time for a A. elatior varigatet form -but until now no succsess -is it maybe possibly to get a piece from your plant ?
I can offer you swap or payment -please send me a PM !

Greetings
Hans
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Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2008, 03:23:04 PM »
I have forgotten to add that the flowers are long lasting, almost in A. attenuata. The single flower is open since before Christmas time! The only reference book I have found about Aspidistra is in Chinese. There is any one want/can translate  it? ;)

Ciao
Alberto



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Maggi Young

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2008, 08:32:22 PM »
I well remember the first time I found flowers on our Aspidistra plant..... they looked like little creatures from outer space... took me a moment to realise that they WERE flowers!  I gave that plant away many years ago when it was too big for the place I kept it... Now I wonder if it is still alive...... ::)
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Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2008, 08:34:44 PM »
Maggi, I think it is impossible to kill it! :)
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2008, 10:23:24 PM »
Suddenly I feel the urge to go out and buy one of these plants. Are they difficult to flower?
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Carlo

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2008, 11:26:11 PM »
Tony Avent at Plant Delights used to have many aspidistra species. I don't know if they're in his list currently or not...you can find him on the web.
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Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2008, 07:46:33 AM »
Anthony, it is not difficult to make them flower, but the problem is that you have to check the flowers at the soil level between the leaves! ;)

Carlo, I know that Tony Avent has a good selection of Aspidistra and so Asiatica, but it is quite impossible to import legally these plant from USA as they stay about 40 days at Italian Custom, suffering and drying, this time really died! Do you know another way to send these plants to me? ;)

Ciao
Alberto
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Paul T

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2008, 11:12:20 PM »
Howdy All,

Catching up after a week away from the Forum....... 

I used to have difficulty convincing people that Aspidistra flowered, as they're only known for the foliage.  The flowers are teh strangest little things, most resembling the consistency of wood rather than a normal petal.  Pretty much every time I have ever checked there are flowers on my plant, although I must admit I haven't checked in a few years.  Mine used to be variegated but over time it has had pieces revert to green and they've taken over the clump unfortunately.  I never realised that they were actually frost hardy, so how cold can they take and recover?
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Cheers.

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Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

Maggi Young

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2008, 11:16:44 PM »
Quote
how cold can they take and recover
I have no idea, Paul, since in the UK they are always grown as houseplants.
Once mine started to flower... or perhaps I should say "once I DISCOVERED that it had started to flower" then it seemed to have a flower or two practically all the time. Mine were little dark reddy brown flowers, very tricky to spot really so little wonder that some folks never notice they exist. ::)
« Last Edit: March 15, 2010, 06:42:38 PM by Maggi Young »
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Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2008, 11:27:14 PM »
I've had a good look at mine since this thread began and there is no sign of a flower of any kind, but I've only had it a year so guess there is time yet....
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Chris Boulby
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Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2008, 12:25:20 PM »
Hi,
Aspidistra elatior is really hardy. Where I live, not all Italy is the country of "sole" (sun), we experience in winter usually -10°C. I have my A. elatior in pot and it survived very well. The other species, according to Tony Avent are told hardy to USA zone 8, but I have not so many plants to test!

Alberto

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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2008, 12:27:34 PM »
Alberto,

Do they lose their foliage in winter though?
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