You would think with 220 new Aspidistra (cast iron plant) species discovered since 1980 that botanists would have found them all, but that seems to be far from the case. This oddity just flowered in our collection this month, and is obviously yet another new species. This is one of the final collections (2018) made for us by the late Alan Galloway in Vietnam, so we’ll be working with colleagues in Vietnam to name this after Alan.
I live in central south Va..about 3 hours away from you. Do I need to be concerned about the 7b species I bought from you this year? Really doing well if voles don’t get them😡
I would assume you’re in a Zone 7a/7b area. If most plants went into the ground early enough to be established, they should be fine if the winter temps stay in Zone 7b range. Despite of the best attempts by humans, we cannot accurately predict winter temperatures that drop below those “normal” levels. Certain plants that are marginal in your zone, may appreciate some extra protection (mulch) the first winter, but that’s done on a plant by plant basis.
I’m in NC zone 8a. In late summer I was gifted 2 large clumps of Aspidistra elatior that were being ‘removed’ due to a landscaping project. When digging them I discovered several large ‘seeds’ beneath them that had not yet germinated. I threw them in a pot on top of some moist compost and soon they were sending out numerous roots. They must require exposure to light to germinate. I’ve since moved the pot into my unheated basement to overwinter. I was wondering if this is necessary? With the current cold snap bringing low temps in the 20’s and possibly the teens I wanted to protect the new roots that are growing just below the soil surface and then transplant into the garden in the spring.
Congratulations on your aspidistra seedlings. They actually do not require light to germinate, but the disturbance is probably speeding them along. Since it was just dug, it’s find to overwinter it in a cold basement, although it probably would have been fine putting it directly in the ground. What you want to avoid is letting it get exposed to warm temps, and then plunging it back into cold, once it’s lost its winter acclimation.
Do most aspidistras flower? I have a beautiful variegated one purchased from PDN a number of years ago and would love to know to watch for such as this!
Yes, all aspidistras flower, but most hide their flowers at the base of the foliage. Most people grow Aspidistra elatior, which typically flowers in December and January, so now is the time to look for these amazing flowers.