Snowcap Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior 'Snowcap'
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-11 Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Height at Maturity: 24-30"
Width at Maturity: 24-30"
Spacing: 18" for mass plantings; 48" or more for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright Clump
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Flower Color: None
Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA
Flower Type: NA
Fragrant Flowers: NA
Foliage Color: Deep Green and White, year round
Fragrant Foliage: NA
Berries: NA
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Full Shade to Part Shade (no afternoon sun)
Water Needs: Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry when established
Soil pH: 4.5 - 5.5 (Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit, Deep Shade
Description
One tough evergreen perennial plant that lives up to its name, the Cast Iron Plant will practically grow in the dark, loves the heat, and isn't phased by arid and dry conditions, making it a perfect choice for planting in those difficult to fill areas in deep shade, even under large shade trees. Aspidistra elatior 'Snowcap' is unique in that the upper third to half of the 30" long by 5" wide dark green leaves turn to white and stay white year round, resulting in a very dramatic effect that holds throughout winter. A very tough plant that forms impressive evergreen clumps to 30 inches tall and equally or more as wide over time in the garden, but can also serve as an year round outdoor or indoor houseplant in containers. Just make sure to use a larger container that gives the roots plenty of room to grow. Reason being, the white variegation tends to not show up as much or at all when the plants roots are restricted in a small container. This one ranks right up there with snake plants and Philodendrons as being an almost indestructible houseplant.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in an upright clump to about 30 inches tall and equally or more as wide over time, the Morning Sun Cast Iron Plant is ideal for use as an accent, in groupings or as a border in shady to partially shaded garden beds, home foundation plantings. It grows very well under the canopies of large shade trees, decks or any other full shade environment. Excellent as a solo or combined with other shade loving plants in container gardens and is an almost indestructible houseplant. A fine addition to the tropical-look garden, perennial shade gardens, cut flower gardens, cottage gardens, white them gardens and woodland and rock gardens.
Spacing: 18 to 24 inches apart for mass plantings or solid borders; 48 inches or more apart for space between plants
How To Measure Total Square Feet Of A Planting Area
How Many Plants Needed To Cover A Planting Area?
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where Cast Iron Plant is not reliably winter hardy, you'll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
Cast Iron Plant thrives in dense shade to part shade and almost any well-drained soil with average fertility. Morning sun is okay however avoid exposing this plant to direct afternoon sunlight. When grown as a houseplant use a container with a drainage hole(s) and a light premium potting mix. When grown outdoors in pots use a premium potting soil or a 50/50 mix of potting soil and potting mix. When growing in a pot start with a container with a rim diameter of 14 inches or more. When the plant becomes root bound transplant to a larger container. If leaves are damaged during winter simply snip them off in late winter and new leaf shoots will emerge when temperatures warm in spring.
Plant Long & Prosper!
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