Casting Around Seed

We can’t imagine there are many people who grow cast iron plants from seed, but we have found the results quite fascinating. Below are a couple of our seedling which we found good enough to name. Neither has been divided yet, and are still under evaluation, but we think they have good potential.

Aspidistra ‘Bright Lights’ is a 2015 seedling from Aspidistra ‘Okame’ and has a similar variegation pattern, although it has more white banding than its parent.

Aspidistra elatior ‘Bright Lights’

Aspidistra ‘Illumination’ is a 2016 seedling of Aspidistra ‘Sekko Kan’, and inherited the white tips from its mama, but has also pickup up more streaking that wasn’t present in the preceding generation, so perhaps it outcrossed to a nearby streaked parent. If you’re interested in trying this yourself, the seed are found in a 1-2″ wide green ball at the base of the plant now. The seed should be mature in the next 4-6 weeks.

Aspidistra elatior ‘Illumination’

10 thoughts on “Casting Around Seed”

  1. I LOVE the Aspidistra ‘Okame’ I got from PDN. It gets more white variegation each year, and was totally unscathed in my zone 7B garden (northern Wake County, NC) during the pre-Christmas 9 degree sudden chill. If you can improve on that with ‘Bright Lights’ that must really be something! Can’t wait for you to carry it.

  2. ‘Bright Lights’ looks glorious. I love the crisp white and green, and the variable widths of striping. May their tribe increase!

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