Aspidistra elatior or the Cast Iron Plant is an evergreen, rhizomatous perennial that has glossy, green, lance-shaped leaves that are up to 50cms long.
The flowers, which are produced in early summer at ground level, are not exactly pretty, being button like, creamy coloured on the outside and purplish on the inner surfaces. This plant is clearly grown for its foliage, especially when kept indoors where they rarely flower.
It is a popular houseplant, though in Australia it grows outdoors very well in the shade and can withstand a light frost, but not heavy or prolonged frosts.
Aspidistras are as tough as old nails - hence their common name of Cast Iron Plant. They can withstand all sorts of neglect including forgetting to water them, poor light, fluctuations in humidity and temperature and bad air quality. But it won't take direct sunlight for long with the leaves bleaching and eventually killing it.