Disporum, Genus, spp., Multiple species,
- Genus
- Multiple species
fairy bells
Overview
Disporum is a genus of about 20 species of rhizomatous woodland perennials in the family Colchicaceae, native to temperate and subtropical East Asia, from the Himalayas to Japan and south to Southeast Asia. Plants form clumps of upright to arching, often branched stems 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall, clothed in alternate, oval to lance-shaped, prominently veined leaves. Pendent bell- to tube-shaped flowers, white, cream, green, or yellow and sometimes flushed purple, hang in ones, twos, or small clusters at the branch tips in spring. Rounded berries that ripen black, dark blue, or red follow in summer and autumn. D. cantoniense and D. sessile are grown for their arching bamboo-like stems and fresh foliage, the latter often in a white-variegated form. Plants spread slowly by rhizome into colonies and grow in cool, moist, humus-rich shade, declining in dry or sunny sites.
Native Range
Disporum is native to temperate and subtropical East and Southeast Asia, from the Himalayas through China, Korea, and Japan. Plants grow in moist, shaded broadleaf and mixed forest, often on slopes and along streams.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland and shade gardens, shaded borders, and along paths, where the arching stems rise among ferns, hostas, and other shade perennials. Variegated forms are grown for their patterned foliage in cool shade.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, often April to May, when pendent bell- to tube-shaped flowers hang at the tips of the new stems. The flowers are followed by rounded berries that ripen through summer into autumn in shades of black, blue, or red. Bloom is modest and set among fresh foliage.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, cream, green, or yellowFoliage Description
green, sometimes white-variegatedGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Disporum grows in part to full shade in cool, moist, humus-rich, well-drained woodland soil. Plants need steady moisture and shelter from hot afternoon sun and drying wind, which scorch the foliage. New shoots emerge in spring and can be nipped by late frost in cold gardens. The rhizomes spread slowly into clumps and are long-lived once settled. Most species are cold-hardy through about USDA zones 4 to 9, depending on origin, with mulch helping in colder or drier sites. Little feeding is needed in soils rich in organic matter.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed beyond cutting back the spent stems as they yellow in autumn or early spring. Frost-damaged new shoots can be trimmed once fresh growth follows. Clumps are lifted and divided in early spring where increase is wanted.Pruning Schedule
Prune: March & November
fallearly spring
Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons
