Description
Disporum – Prosartes – Fairy Bells –
There are about 10-20 elegant and attractive rhizomatous perennials, in this genus which are similar to Solon’s Seal (Polygonatum). They occur in woodlands in the Himalayas, Eastern Asia and temperate North America. The mid to dark green leaves are ovate to lance shaped, stalkless or with short stalks, usually hairless, are carried alternately on sparsely branched, arching stems. Often pendent, narrowly bell shaped, white to green-yellow, purple-red, or bronze red flowers, ½-1 1/4″ long, are usually borne in few flowered umbels, occasionally singly. They are followed by orange, red, or black berries. Grow in a woodland garden or shady mixed or herbaceous border.
Grow in cool, moist but well drained, humus rich soil in partial shade. Divide rhizomes in early spring.
Prone to fungal spots, slugs, and vine weevils.
D. cantoniense – This clump forming rhizomatous perennial from the Himalayas, China and Southeastern Asia grows 36″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces lance shaped leaves, 2-6″ long. In late spring and early summer it bears umbels of 3-6 pendent, tubular, purplish red, brownish red, or white flowers on short stalks followed in early autumn by black-red berries.
Zones 4-9
