There are some plants on sale at my local grocery store. If they were a lily I would expect them to be half the price, but if they are an aspidistra then they would be about $50 more for the same size pot.
The thing is, I have never seen an aspidistra in person before. But I really want one. It's the plant I've been wanting for years. They just don't happen locally.
Is there some trick to tell if this "tropical plant, 4" pot" is an aspidistra? (the staff don't know as they just order in random plants to make the front of the shop look good)
The aspidistra leaf has a smoother leaf with no veins coming out from the centre rib, vs the peace lily that has veins/ridges coming out about 30 degrees from the central rib. Hope that makes sense
I'll attach some photos showing the difference in growth structure between Aspidistra (cast iron plant) and Spathiphyllum (peace lily). You'll be able to tell the difference by looking at how the stems join together at the base.
As a long time houseplant enthusiast myself, who has tried to care for many exotics over the years, I've come to appreciate the stalwarts who don't fuss. I too, wanted an Aspidistra for many years because of their legendary fame, but never seen them in person around the shops where I live. Aspidistras are not common, mostly because they are very slow growing, (especially true for the variegated stripe one). I had to ordered mine online from a grower in california. That was in 2019 and I never regretted it since! With the increased interest in houseplants these days, maybe these old-time favorites will become more available again. I hope you do eventually find yourself an Aspidistra. I think it would be a great fit for you and they are super cool when they bloom!
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