Re: Cast Iron plant

My bloomer was inside near an area with lots of morning (Eastern)
light...we have also had "ribbon cactus", (been looking for the proper name
but my home library is limited for this type of plant...it puts out a
narrow hard stem and from it a ribbon-like leaf)...it is amazing...looks
like a velvet bell pull dropping from one of the margins in the leaf.

Bonnie Zone 6+ ETN




> [Original Message]
> From: <TeichFlora@aol.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 03/06/2004 1:46:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Cast Iron plant
>
> Hi Jim, NO, I've never seen it bloom.  Oh this is MOST interesting!  This 
> plant is over used in landscaping here too for shade.....and considered
"out".  
> Most "re-dos" call for ripping it all out.  I have and use the Apidistra
elator 
> variegata a lot.  There are several varieties of this.  I personally like
a 
> bit of variegation in a shaded area, so this serves two
purposes.....no-fuss 
> evergreen lush foliage in a shaded area, plus the added bonus of the
white.  To 
> know that it might actually bloom, and be even more attractive plus scent
is 
> just amazing.  I do so hope mine blooms.  You mentioned you didn't know
the 
> conditions for blooming???  Hm.  
>
> I don't indoor garden much, except for my life long window sill cactus 
> collection......but visited a friend recently that has a Corn plant which
is 
> blooming inside his house.  It's a lovely two story with huge windows, so
gets ample 
> lighting.  The bloom is quite pretty, and very fragrant also.  I had
never 
> heard of this plant blooming before either, and was pleasantly surprised.
Jim, 
> or anyone grow this plant, if so....has it bloomed???   My friend's
blooms 
> yearly now.  He was told that it has to have a min. 5 inch stalk to do so.
>
> Brazilian Cherry??  Have been busy, so haven't been keeping up with my
list 
> email much at all.  
> Noreen
> zone 9
> Texas Gulf Coast
>
> In a message dated 3/5/2004 8:05:36 PM Central Standard Time, 
> gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:
>
> 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.
>
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