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. sessile ‘Variegatum’ – This spreading, rhizomatous perennial grows 18″ tall and at least 36″ wide. It produces almost stalkless, oblong or oblong-lance shaped leaves, 2-6″ long, broadly and variously striped white. In late spring and early summer, each stem produces 2 or 3 flower stalks, each bearing up to 3 pendent, tubular, green tipped, white or very pale cream flowers, followed in early autumn by black berries.
Zones 4-9
