I was this number of years old before I learned that the large patch of healthy but utilitarian ground cover we have growing in one area of shaded woodland is in fact an aspidistra, probably Aspidistra elatior. It was our gardener Zach who told me and all I can say is that a garden apprentice who can teach you things is a treasure.
I had only ever known aspidistras from literature – characterised as a dull, often dusty plant languishing in a corner, sitting on a lace tablecloth in Victorian parlours. They are, I find, commonly referred to as the cast-iron plant because they are seemingly indestructible as a house plant. The Victorians favoured them because they tolerated gas fumes and coal smoke as well as low light levels and drought. They only required occasional dusting, really. It is just a shame they are, perhaps, a litttle… dull.
I had looked at this large clump of ours without ever really pondering what it was. I was more disappointed in the fact that I had never seen it flower. I imagined a plant with foliage like that putting up a white spadix-type of bloom, not unlike a peace lily. No, Zach, told me. The flower comes from the base and you have to ferret around the base to find it. No wonder I never saw it flower. The clump has always been one of those anonymous plants that is just there to furnish a space.
The flowers could be described as curious or, equally, underwhelming. They come up from the rhizome on stems about 1.5cm high and are a fleshy looking cup with a starry burgundy inner about 2cm across. They are very small. And shy. Interesting but never showy.
Aspidistras are a large family of forest-dwelling plants found throughout areas of Asia. In terms of woodland ground cover, they are useful, making a lush clump around knee-high to hip-high. Presumably they are not particularly tasty because the damage from slugs, snails and caterpillars is minimal. The old foliage dies off gracefully and they continue to look lush all year round with absolutely no grooming. All I have ever done is to pull out a bit debris that has fallen from above. In 40 years, we have twice taken bits off to spread a little further in that area – and once was this week. Otherwise, they have kept more or less to their original space, quietly minding their own business.
I am looking at them with more respect now that I have stopped hoping for some large white spadix-type blooms. It seems that as a woodland ground cover, they are as easy-care and accepting of benign neglect as they were in Victorian parlours. Just keep them out of the sun, is apparently the secret.
Tikorangi The Jury Garden 
They would nowadays be regarded as very old-fashioned house plants here but I am nursing one, with two leaves only, which has yellow spotting on the foliage!
Paddy! Shame! Just 2 leaves? This is meant to be the cast-iron plant!
When I received it, there was only half a leaf! So, I’m making progress!
Oh, I knew, which is why I was surprised to see some cultivars marketed with their odd bloom as an attribute. The flowers are certainly interesting, and must be more prominent than those of common sorts, but there are prettier flowers to grow.
Nice post Abbie. I recently broke up my aspidistra clump of 20 years to move to our new garden. I will say that having divided the clump into a dozen or so groups under trees they suddenly look far more purposeful and actually quite attractive. Am combining with Asarum europaeum and Asplenium falcatum to repopulate a shady area that until now has been dominated by ivy.
I feel the same – divided and combined with other plants makes them much more appealing than just one clump – or one patch all the same.
There is a good reason why the flowers of Aspidistra sit on the ground. Someone from Kew told me that they give off a rather dubious smell that is irresistible to slugs. In fact, though hard to believe, they are pollinated by them. The colour and smell resemble those of a dead slug, which they consider a delicacy. The plants may indeed be rather dull but I have a very striking variegated form with half of the leaf being pure white. It virtually glows in a shady spot in my garden.
Oh that is interesting about the pollination by slugs. Several people have mentioned variegated forms. I have never taken any interest in aspidistra before but I can see that a good, clean variegation could light up a dark area.