yardremake
A mature Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Accent · Mass planting · Specimen · Container · Houseplant · Drought tolerant · Shade

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior · Perennial

Cast Iron Plant is a slow-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 8-10, that matures to about 2–3 ft × 1–2 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with medium water needs in well-drained and occasionally-dry soil. Expect brown, cream and purple blooms in summer. It stands up well to deer, poor soil and rabbits and grows happily in containers.

USDA zones
8-10
Sun
Part shade, Full shade
Water
Medium
Mature size
2–3 ft × 1–2 ft
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Soil
Well-drained, Occasionally-dry
Bloom color
Brown, Cream, Purple
Bloom season
Summer
Tough against
Deer, Poor soil, Rabbits, Salt
Native to
China, Japan

Will it survive your winters?

We score Cast Iron Plant’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10

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