When installing in your landscape, incorporate abundant peat moss or humus to the soil and plant the rhizomes 3 inches deep. All species prefer a shaded environment. They are usually deer resistant.
Disporum bodinieri ( Chinese Fairy Bell )
A huge, evergreen perennial, forming a clump up to 7 x 4 feet, that is native to western China. It may be evergreen in mild climates.
The ovate or elliptical leaves are up to 6 x 2,3 inches in size.
The creamy-white flowers, up to 1.2 inches in length, are borne in clusters during late spring into early summer.
They are followed by rounded blue berries during late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil.
Disporum cantonense ( Thailand Fairy Bell )
A moderate growing, rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 7 x 4 feet ( rarely over 5 feet in height ), native to southeast Asia ( mostly western China & Japan ). Thailand Fairy Bell is an excellent architectural plant for the landscape.
The lance-shaped, evergreen leaves, up to 6 x 2 inches in size, are glossy green.br />The white, pink or reddish-purple, bell-shaped flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in groups of 3 or 7, during late spring to early summer.
The fruits, up to 0.4 inches wide, are bluish-black.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( many clones only zones 7 to 8 ) in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil. North of zone 7, Thailand Fairy Bell becomes deciduous and should be mulched with pine boughs during winter.<
* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
'Aureovariegatum'
Reaches up to 3 feet with sturdy stems bearing glossy green foliage that is heavily yellow streaked. The flowers are white.
var 'cantoniense'
Deep pinkish-red flowers
'Green Giant'
Vigorous and massive! reaching up to 10 feet in height, with bamboo-like shoots. The foliage is deep green and the fragrant, creamy-white flowers appear on branched panicles.
* photo taken on Sep 5 2013 in Elkridge, MD
'Night Heron'
Reaches up to 6 x 3 feet with foliage that is intense purple during spring, turning deep purplish-green.
The flowers are white.
* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC
Disporum flavum ( Korean Fairy Bells )
Also called Disporum uniflorum. A rhizomatous, dense, strongly-upright, clumping perennial reaching up to 3.5 x 3 feet ( rarely over 5 feet in height ), native to Manchuria and Korea.
The lance-shaped to elliptical, evergreen leaves, up to 6 x 2.3 inches in size, are glossy green.
The bright yellow ( rarely white ), bell-shaped flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in groups of 3 or 7, during mid to late spring.
They are followed by ovoid bluish-black berries, up to 0.4 inches wide.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil.
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.
Disporum hookeri ( Hooker's Fairybells )
Also called Prosartes hookeri. A rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 3.3 x 3 feet, native to moist forests and shady slopes from Kitsault, British Columbia to Mackenzie, B.C. to Jasper National Park, Alberta to near Lethbridge, Albt; south to central California to southeast Idaho. It is also native to northeastern Wyoming and the Porcupine Mountains in western Upper Peninsula of Michigan and both those populations are critically endangered.
The stalkless, broadly-oval leaves, up to 6 x 2 inches, are glossy bright green.
The nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in groups of 1 to 3, during mid to late spring.
The oblong fruits, up to 0.3 inches, are orangish to scarlet-red.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil.
* photo taken by The Wild Garden, www.nwplants.com
* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos
Disporum lanuginosum ( Yellow Mandarin )
A rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 3 x 2 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, native to eastern North America ( from southern Ontario to New York State; south to Arkansas to northern Georgia to western Maryland but mostly in the Appalachian Mountains ). It occurred sporadically on the Ohio shore during the 1800s. Looks great planted in groups.
The ovate leaves, up to 5 x 2 inches, are glossy green above, downy beneath.
The yellow, tubular flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in groups of 3 or 4, during late spring to early summer.
The oblong fruits are orangish-red.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.
* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
* photo taken on Jul 9 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on May 6 2018 in Columbia, MD
Disporum maculata ( Yellow Mandarin )
A rare perennial, reaching up to 2 feet, that is native to rich woods in the southern Appalachian Mountains ( from southern Ohio to southern West Virginia; south to northern Alabama to far northeast Georgia ).
The leaves are up to 4 x 1.6 inches in size.
The yellow flowers are borne mid to late spring.
They are followed by yellow berries.
Disporum megalanthum
Similar to Disporum bodinieri, reaching up to 6 feet with larger white flowers during late spring. It is also native to western China. It is moderately-fast growing.
The elliptical leaves are up to 5 x 3 inches in size.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 ( 5 on protected sites ) in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil.
Disporum sessile ( Japanese Fairy Bells )
A vigorous spreading, rhizomatous, perennial reaching up to 2 x 3+ feet, that is native to deciduous forests in Sakhalin and most of Japan. Looks great planted in groups or as groundcover.
The lance-shaped leaves, up to 6 x 1.6 inches, are matte deep green above, downy beneath.
The greenish-white, tubular flowers, up to 1.3 inches in length, are borne in groups of 3 or 4, during late spring to early summer.
The oblong fruits, up to 0.4 inches long, are black.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( 4 on protected sites ) in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.
* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photos taken on Apr 24 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
'Aureovariegatum'
Foliage is deep green and heavily longitudinally striped bright golden-yellow. This is among the most beautiful of all shade perennials. There are few plants better for brightening up a shady garden.
* photo of unknown internet source
'Cricket'
Foliage is white centered.
* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA
'Flavens'
Yellow flowers
'Macrophyllum'
Found at the Korean island of Ullüngdõ, as well as the coldest parts of Japan, this very vigorous form with huge oblong to elliptical leaves, up to 6.5 x 4 inches, also has larger flowers, up to 1.6 inches in length, in clusters of up to 4.
'Stenophyllum'
Foliage is variegated either yellow or white.
'Variegatum'
Foliage is deep green and heavily longitudinally striped bright white. This is among the most beautiful of all shade perennials. There are few plants better for brightening up a shady garden.
* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Disporum smilacinum
A rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 20 x 16+ inches, that is native to mountain forests in Sakhalin, far eastern China, Korea and Japan. The rhizomes slowly expand to form large colonies thus making an excellent woodland groundcover.
The elliptic leaves, up to 3 x 2.5 inches, are glossy deep green above.
The white, bell-shaped flowers, up to 0.6 inch in length, are borne in groups of 1 or rarely 2 to 4, during late spring to early summer.
The oblong fruits are bluish-black.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic, well drained soil.
'Aureovariegatum'
Glossy foliage that is tipped and longitudinally striped yellow later fading to creamy-white. Looks great in groups or as groundcover.
* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014
* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA
'Golden Chief'
Foliage is golden with delicate green stripes.
'Kinkaku'
Foliage is streaked green.
'Setsurei'
Foliage is white with green flecks and spotting.
'Snow Mountain'
Foliage is green with white stripes.
'Yellow Chief'
Foliage margined and longitudinally streaked yellow.
Disporum smithii ( Smith's Fairybells )
Also called Prosartes smithii. A fast growing, rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 3.3 x 1.5 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet, native to moist coniferous forests from southwestern British Columbia to northern California.
The broadly-oval leaves, up to 5 x 2 inches, are smooth, glossy mid-green above, downy beneath.
The white, bell-shaped flowers, up to 1.3 inches in length, are borne in clusters of up to 7, during late spring to early summer.
They are followed by an orange-red berry, up to 0.6 x 0.3 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4b to 8 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.
* photo taken by The Wild Garden, www.nwplants.com
Disporum trachycarpa ( Rough-Fruited Mandarin )
Also called Prosartes trachycarpa. A rhizomatous, spreading perennial reaching up to 32 inches x 1.5 feet, native to much of western North America ( from Juneau, Alaska to Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Slave Lake, Alberta to Dauphin, Manitoba to Grand Marais, Manitoba; south to eastern Oregon to Nevada to central Arizona to western Nebraska ). It is found in moist woodland in the wild.
The oval leaves, up to 3 x 1.3 inches, are glossy mid-green above, downy beneath; turning to deep golden-yellow during autumn. The leaves clasp the stem.
The hanging, creamy-white, bell-shaped, up to 0.5 inches in length, are borne in groups of 1 or 2, during late spring to early summer.
The fuzzy, oblong fruits are yellow turning to orange then red. They are about the size of a Cherry. The sweet juicy berries can be used in pies and preserves. They were frequently eaten by the Blackfoot Indians. This along with Disporum oreganum, are the only species of Disporum that are edible.
Hardy zones 2 to 5 in light to medium shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.
* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Disporum viridescens
A perennial, reaching up to 2.6 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet in height, that is native to far eastern Russia, Manchuria, Korea and Japan.
The elliptical leaves are up to 5 x 2 inches in size.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.8 inches long, appear late spring into early summer.
They are followed by bluish-black fruits, up to 0.4 inches wide.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( Liaoning seed source may be hardier ) in partial to full shade on well drained soil.
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