Light
Medium indirect • approx. 5,000–10,000 lux
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Asparagaceae
Aspidistra elatior
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Aspidistra elatior
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~30–50% dry
Substrate
Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 5–24 °C • Avoid below: -2 °C
Humidity
Normal 40–50 %
Growth habit
Upright clumping rhizomatous herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Slow
Max size indoors
Max. height: 90 cm • Max. spread: 90 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to southern Japan
Outdoor growing
Outside from 5 °C · winter-protected spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Aspidistra elatior
Often called the cast iron plant, Aspidistra elatior grows from a low rhizome, a thick underground stem that produces one upright leaf at a time from the base. Each leaf rises on a sturdy petiole and forms a long, firm blade. Over time, it forms a dense upright clump rather than a stemmed plant.
The leaves are long, lance-shaped and leathery, with an even green surface. Because each leaf is separate, damaged leaves are best removed at the base rather than trimmed.
It is native to southern Japan, where it grows in shaded, sheltered conditions. Indoors, it tolerates lower light better than many tropical houseplants. It grows best in filtered light, while direct sun can bleach or mark the leaves.
Aspidistra elatior care
- Light: Low to bright filtered light works well. Direct sun can bleach or mark the leaves.
- Watering: Water thoroughly, then let the upper part of the mix dry before watering again so the rhizome does not stay wet.
- Substrate: Use a loose, well-drained mix that still holds some moisture, with enough coarse material to keep air around the roots.
- Leaf care: Wipe dusty leaves with a soft damp cloth.
- Temperature: It handles cooler indoor conditions well, but grows more steadily in mild, stable temperatures.
- Humidity: Average indoor humidity is fine.
- Feeding: Because growth is slow, it only needs light, infrequent feeding.
- Repotting: Repotting is rarely needed. Move the plant on when the rhizome reaches the edge of the pot, the clump becomes crowded, or water starts running through too quickly.
- Propagation: Mature plants can be divided by cutting the rhizome into sections, each with several healthy leaves and roots attached.
Issues to check on Aspidistra elatior
- Brown tips: Can come from irregular watering, mineral build-up or dry air.
- One older yellow leaf: Often just normal ageing.
- Several yellow leaves at once: Often means the pot has stayed too wet or conditions changed suddenly.
- Bleached patches: Usually come from direct sun.
- Slow growth: Normal for this species.
- Scale or mites: Check older leaves and leaf bases if the leaves look marked or sticky.
The plant can produce small flowers close to the surface of the substrate, but these are easy to miss beside the upright leaves.
It is listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Even so, keep it away from pets that repeatedly nibble plants, as large amounts of plant material can still upset their stomach.
The accepted botanical name is Aspidistra elatior Blume, in the Asparagaceae family. The genus name is linked to the Greek word for a small shield, and the species name refers to its taller growth compared with related plants.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
Aspidistra elatior
Sale price€49,50
FAQs about Aspidistra elatior
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