Aspidistra (Aspidistra eliator)
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Aspidistra eliator
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
It wasn’t the biggest aspidistra in the world, but it had been growing well in the dining room for several years. Aspidistra has the reputation of being impossible to kill. This summer, that reputation was wrecked, as the hot weather killed it off, assisted by my lack of attention. It had almost reached the point of no return several times in recent years, but this time, it was curtains. Nothing I could do would revive it. I have left the sad remains in the pot. It may surprise me yet, but I’m not overly optimistic.
The cast iron or bar room plant originates in southern Japan, growing in dense shade under trees. The leaves emerge from ground level and the flowers, which appear in summer, are found at ground level, too.
By 2008, ninety-three species of aspidistra had been identified. Among them are plants whose leaves emerge chocolate brown in colour and then turn green, and others with speckled markings.
It was greatly prized by the Victorians as a symbol of middle-class affluence. It was a plant that could withstand limited sunlight and the poor conditions imposed by open coal fires.
The clip of Gracie Fields singing 'The biggest aspidistra in the world' was recorded in 1977 when she was seventy-nine years old. She died two years later.
The beautiful green aspidistra does well here in Melbourne, usually outside and always in the shade. I hope yours survives.
ReplyDeleteGracious! I've never heard of that plant but it was fun listening to Gracie Fields.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them but never had one myself.
ReplyDeleteEven if your aspidistra has met its end, its history and resilience make it a plant with quite a remarkable story
ReplyDeleteI remember Gracie Fields well. We used to listen to her a lot in my family growing-up years. Sounds like a very hardy plant!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like something I should get. I'm horrible with plants. I manage to keep them alive for awhile and then things go wron
ReplyDeleteI had my line worked out as soon as I saw the heading Aspidistra. Alas you mentioned it in your first line.
ReplyDeleteI think we had an aspidistra in the 1980s but I can't remember what happened to it. Cast iron plant you say, so not castor oil plant?
May your aspidistra recover and thrive.
I bet it was a beauty when it was in its prime. I don't think I've ever even seen this plant. Years ago I did have a few house plants that didn't Bloom that they just had huge green leaves and I think they make a nice addition.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had an aspidistra. I have two giant rubber plants out on my balcony though, which I put out there in the spring, because they had grown too tall for my windows. They obviously loved spending summer outdoors and have now grown even bigger, so how I'm going to handle that now, I have no idea! (No place for them indoors, so I guess I'll just have to take cuttings and start over, which I've managed to do before...)
ReplyDelete