• Image of Aspidistra yingjiangensis 'Singapore Sling'|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

  • Image of Aspidistra yingjiangensis 'Singapore Sling'||
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Aspidistra yingjiangensis 'Singapore Sling'

Singapore Sling Cast Iron Plant

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 7061

Zones: 9a to 10b

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 36" tall

Culture: Light Shade to Shade

Origin: Thailand

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Aspidistra yingjiangensis 'Singapore Sling' is a 2007 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction of an unusual cast iron plant that is quite popular at the Thailand flower market. Our plant was shared by the late plantsman Alan Galloway from his Thailand travels. The 3' long x 2" wide, dark green leaves are heavily spotted with large creamy yellow spots. If you're having trouble visualizing, think about a green whip used to beat a glass of milk into submission, and you've got the picture. Aspidistra 'Singapore Sling' is the tallest of the spotted leaf cultivars and will make a stunning house plant where it is not winter hardy. Aspidistra has good deer-resistance, but if deer are a problem in your home, we really can't help you.

Maintenance:

Aspidistra are very low maintenance perennials. Each leaf can last up to 3 years, but after the second year, it will begin to show signs of aging and leaf degradation. For that reason, we recommend removing all old foliage regularly to retain the attractiveness of the clump. It's always disappointing to see large patches of cast iron plants in public spaces where it hasn't been properly maintained.

Growing Conditions:

Cast iron plants grow well in both moist and dry soils as long as the drainage is good. Aspidistra must be grown in shade, since their foliage will scorch if they are subjected to sun. In the jungles where they grow, they are often seen in very deep shade.

In containers, they make superb house plants. The common name cast iron plant speaks to their durability in less than ideal conditions. Regular moisture, including increased humidity when they are grown as house plants, keeps them from getting stressed and becoming susceptible to spider mites.

Garden Value:

The bold texture and upright form of cast iron plants is invaluable in the garden, since there few other plants with this form and texture. Many have amazing flowers, produced at the base of the foliage, often in the winter months. While these flowers are rarely noticed in the garden, they can be quite attractive in the home.