Castiron Plant or Aspidistra. This plant is a real symbol of a Deep South shade garden with its coarse, paper-like large leaves up to 30" or more in height. There is probably no other plant that will thrive in almost complete darkness than this species. Its common name, Castiron Plant is indicative of this, as it was a staple house plant in the cold, dark, Victorian foyer. One might not suspect it, but this plant is in the lily family, Liliaceae, and has fascinating, 1 1/2" purple flowers which are at the ground line. The seed are found in a round, green, passiflora-like fruit situated at the soil line as well. If one wishes to simulate a tropical air in the shade garden, there is no better plant than this species in addition to Fatsia and Aucuba. E. Asia, Himalaya to Japan. I have complaints from customers about this plant, but it inevitably comes from being grown in too much sun, where the leaves become a sick yellow with black spots. This Genus needs complete shade. When I was in college in the 1960's, there were only two species of Aspidistra known in the horticultural trade. Now there are 162 recognized species.
Zones 7-11
