We are entering peak flowering season for Aspidistra (cast iron plants), a time we always enjoy because of the fascinating leaf and flower diversity in the genus. One of several species flowering this week is the rare, South Central Vietnam native, Aspidistra quangngaiensis, a species only discovered and described in 2017. Sadly, it’s small population is declining, due to forest farming in the region. Since it’s native to an elevation of less than 1,000′ elevation feet, it would likely only be winter hardy outside from Central Florida and south. Elsewhere, however, it would make a superb house plant, as is the case with all of the cast iron species. It will probably be another couple of years before we have enough to share.
Aspidistra is one of my favorite garden plant. Most of my plants were purchased from PDN.
Discovered in 2017? Darn I was hoping there was a variegated leaf version somewhere in Japan.