Cast Iron Plant, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Cast iron plant is a slow, leathery-leaved evergreen for the spots nothing else wants: deep shade, root-filled ground under oaks, and dry corners beside north walls. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall in SW Florida and shrugs off drought, neglect and cold. We deliver and plant it by quote.

Light:: Part shade to deep shade; direct sun bleaches and scorches the leaves
Water:: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but not for soggy ground
Salt:: Low; keep it in shelter away from salt spray

Text Me a Planted Price Call (239) 799-5594

Cast Iron Plant sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Plant	Sizes
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Cast Iron Plant in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 2 to 3 ft tall, in a clump that widens slowly
Light: Part shade to deep shade; direct sun bleaches and scorches the leaves
Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but not for soggy ground
Salt tolerance: Low; keep it in shelter away from salt spray
Cold tolerance: Very hardy; Florida freezes rarely hurt it, though leaf tips may brown in a hard frost
Growth rate: Slow
Spacing: 18 to 24 in apart for a groundcover mass
Florida native: No, native to East Asia
Botanical name: Aspidistra elatior

Where Cast Iron Plant works in a SW Florida yard

Cast iron plant earns its keep in deep to part shade: under live oaks where roots make digging hard, along north-facing walls, in narrow side yards and in front of dark fences. Plant it in drifts for a clean, evergreen mass. Boston fern and bromeliads add softer texture and color nearby, and liriope makes a neat edge.

Dry shade under trees
North-wall beds
Dark side yards
Evergreen groundcover mass

How our crew plants it

Plant it out of direct sun at the same depth as the pot, 18 to 24 inches apart for a mass. Under trees, dig between large roots rather than cutting them. Sandy soil does better with a little compost worked in. Our crew waters in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings.

Care after planting

Keep it out of direct sun, which bleaches and scorches the leaves.
Water new plants regularly to get them rooted, then let established plants ride out dry spells.
Feed lightly once or twice a year, outside the June 1 to September 30 nitrogen and phosphorus ban in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
Trim ragged or damaged leaves to the base in late winter so fresh leaves show in spring.

What to watch for

Scale insects and spider mites can show up in dry, sheltered spots, and a hosing or horticultural oil clears them.

Cast Iron Plant questions we hear

Is cast iron plant poisonous to dogs and cats?+

No. The ASPCA lists cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing any plant can still upset a pet's stomach, and a plant that gets nibbled constantly will look ragged, so discourage chewing.

Will cast iron plant grow in full shade in Florida?+

Yes, deep shade is where it does best, including under live oaks and along north walls where little else survives. It does not tolerate direct sun, which bleaches and scorches the leaves. Gentle morning sun is the most it should get in SW Florida.

How fast does cast iron plant spread?+

Slowly. It adds a few new leaves a year and widens over several seasons, so a mass planting takes years to fill in. Planting 18 inches apart speeds the effect, and it needs no extra care while it fills.

Updated October 2026