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. smithii – This clump forming, rhizomatous perennial found from British Columbia to California grows 12-24″ tall and 12″ wide. From red tinged stems it carries ovate to ovate-lance shaped leaves, 2-5″ long, rounded to heart shaped at the bases. From early to late spring it bears umbels of 2-6 pendent, tubular-bell shaped, greenish white flowers, followed in late summer by orange berries.
Zones 4-9
