It comes up every Spring. It has beautiful leaves and i let it go until it completely dies back each year. We've been here at the house 16 years and i have never seen it bloom at all. I tried fertilizing once but it didn't make any difference. By June the follage will turn brown and die back. If anyone has any ideas about what this thing is or what i could do different let me know. I would dig it up and be done with it - but this is a historic house and it might be a something wonderful and old - yes, Jim another rescued plant.
I'll try to post again when i can pry the laptop from my daughter's hands. Happy Gardening guys!
Cast iron plant. It prefers dense, heavy shade. Move it. And send me some starts. ;)
ReplyDeleteAspidistra elatior
Cast iron plant is evergreen here in Atlanta, but may not be where you are. I would agree with Tom. Put it in total shade, under a tree, and just leave it alone. The less attention it gets, the happier it is.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I think my daughter has that 'mystery' plant also. I shall pass the information along to her.
ReplyDeleteIn 'it great how much you can learn from blogging friends :)
Well shoot. David informs me it's not cast iron plant as he has that elsewhere. So I'm stumped. But it sure does look like it.
ReplyDeleteCast Iron plant or Aspidistra doesn't have multiple leaves on one shoot as this plant clearly does. My guess is that it is some sort of bulb, try digging one of the outside shoots.
ReplyDeleteMight it be a colchicum? Mine has foliage that looks similar. They send up a flower without any leaves later in the fall.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of cast iron plant but it will be interesting to see if you move it that it will bloom. I have had a lot of foliage of daffodils and wood phlox that will not bloom this year. I don't know why.
ReplyDeleteHello David, just found your site and happy to have done so. That header photo is a knockout! could sit on that charming porch for hours, but then who would tend to our garden. :)
ReplyDeletecolchicum - i have never heard of this plant - Heidi you certainly might be right - i looked it up and it all fits... leaves in the spring - crocus like flowers in the fall, it's seems to be called Sons-Before-Fathers because the flowers come in the fall but the foliage comes in the spring. Thanks - i think you got it!
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