£20.00 - £30.00
Cast iron plant; Bar room plant; Aspidistra Elatior
Why we love Howard
He earns his nickname ‘the cast iron plant’ by being close to indestructible. He’ll soldier on in conditions that would finish off less tough plants. Anyone can keep Howard happy.
Cast Iron Plant
He will cope with very low light, but he’ll thrive in medium, indirect light. He hates bright sun, the grump.
He’s very relaxed about how often you water him, but give him a drink whenever the top two inches of soil feel dry.
His leaves can get a bit dusty, which isn’t very good for him, so wipe them with a damp cloth when you notice any grime.
He can grow up to one metre tall. You can encourage this by giving him a feed every two months in spring and summer.
Botanical name
Aspidistra Elatior
Nickname
Cast Iron Plant; Bar Room Plant
Plant type
Indoor
Air purifying
Yes
Plant height (including pot)
50-60cm; 70-80cm
Pet/baby safe
Yes
Nursery pot size
13cm; 17cm
Aspidistra are sometimes known as the Cast Iron Plant because they’re almost impossible to kill. They’re practically bomb-proof (we have not tested this). If you forget to water yours, give it a dark spot and just generally forget it exists for a bit, it will merrily make do on its own.
They’ve built up that tolerance for poor conditions by growing in the shade under larger trees in China and Vietnam. Their resilience has made them an extremely popular houseplant, because anybody can care for one. If you’re just beginning your plant parenting journey, there’s no better starting point. You’d have to try weirdly hard to kill him (don’t try).
Did you know?
The aspidistra was massively popular in Victorian times, because it easily tolerated the poor light and air quality of 19th century homes.
Fits in 16cm wide pots
£16.00
£18.00
Fits in 20-22cm wide pots
£40.00
£40.00
