RE: Cast iron plant

Yes, mine bloomed this summer.  Left a rusty-orange seed.

Bonnie Zone 6+ ETN




> [Original Message]
> From: james singer <jsinger@igc.org>
> To: Chat <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 03/05/2004 2:18:20 PM
> Subject: [CHAT] Cast iron plant
>
> Hi. Has anyone seen the cast iron plant [Aspidistra elator] bloom? 
> Smelled the flowers? I've always considered then funeral parlor plants. 
> Somber. Dark green, erect spear-like leaves. Put them in pots and 
> forget about them--they'll take all sorts of neglect and abuse.
>
> Down here they are used in landscaping in shady areas. And today I 
> discovered three things about them. First they bloom, given the right 
> conditions [which I haven't figured out yet]; the flower looks a lot 
> like a small crinum lily flower, actually a cluster of small tubular 
> flowers.
>
> Second, the fragrance of the flower is fantastic, quite jasmine-like. 
> It is reported to be most fragrant at night, but my source says even 
> during the day one can smell them from 8 feet. The dead one he brought 
> into the office--it had been riding in his truck most of the day--had 
> plenty of fragrance.
>
> And three, their pollinators are [hope you're ready for this] snails 
> and slugs. No wonder they never set seed in funeral parlors.
>
> Guess I'm going to have to plant one of those. But not tomorrow. 
> Tomorrow, I'm going down to ECHO to buy a couple of Brazilian cherries 
> to add to the orchard.
>
>
>
> Island Jim
> Southwest Florida
> Zone 10
>
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