Houseplants have been close companions of people for many years. They brighten up and decorate any room, while also purifying the air and improving the climate. Biologists identify several hundred types of indoor flowers.
Tropical plants, brought from other countries, have been popular for many decades. These decorative flowers adapt quickly and easily to new climatic conditions, making them common pets in many European homes. One well-known example of such plants is aspidistra.
Aspidistra, also called the cast iron plant, is a leafy decorative flower that belongs to the Asparagus family. Because it is very easy to care for, people often call it the shoemaker’s palm.
The plant naturally grows in dark, cool forests in tropical and subtropical areas. It thrives in places like China and Japan. Another name for aspidistra is the "friendly family" because of its hardy nature.
The plant's roots are compact and partly lie on the soil surface. Its leaves grow from the base and are dark green. These elongated leaves can reach up to 80 centimeters in height and about 15 centimeters wide.
Some types of aspidistra have beige stripes running along the surface of the leaves. Small purple flowers can form inside a protective covering called the perianth. The seed fruit is shaped like a pear.
Indoor aspidistra rarely flowers. To encourage blooming, the plant must be kept in a climate that closely matches its natural home. The main trait of the flowers is that they grow on the surface of the root system.
The tiny purple flowers appear on the soil surface and only last about a day. Once the flowers fade, a small fruit with a single seed begins to develop.