Disporum

( dis - POH - rum )

At-A-Glance Information

These beautiful pendulous flowers are commonly called Fairy Bells, and are naturally found in Asia. Disporum plants grow from underground rhizomes, and can have a clumping habit as well. Flowering stems arch over attractive green foliage, and blooms are followed after a few months by dark berries. Use these plants in woodland gardens or in shaded border plantings. These plants prefer rich, moist soil and can be a bit slow to start once installed. Patience, however, will be rewarded with an interesting garden plant that will continue performing year after year. 

Disporum Species and Varietals

The genus Disporum is a member of the plant family Colchicaceae and includes about 20 species. Chinese Fairy Bells grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Disporum cantoniense (Chinese Fairy Bells)
These interesting flowering plants need partial to full shade, regular water, and are native to China, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas. They are great for woodland gardens. Foliage is similar to Bamboo, and grows in shoots in springtime from underground rhizomes in shades of white, pink, purple, or green. Foliage is green, and fragrant flowers come in white or reddish-purple. Blooms dangle in clusters and are followed by dark berries. Plants have an upright habit, reaching 4-6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. They will die back to the ground in colder weather.

Disporum longistylum (Long-Styled Disporum)
This species of Fairy Bells is native to Assam, Tibet, and central China. Plants will typically reach about Varieties include 'Night Heron' (pictured), 'Green Giant', and 'Moonlight'.

Disporum megalanthum
This species is native to central China and produces a plant that reaches about 2 feet tall at maturity. White to cream-colored flowers are bell-shaped and nodding, and deciduous leaves are glossy and bright green. This is a woodland-environment plant that prefers rich neutral to acidic soil.

Disporum uniflorum (Yellow Fairy Bells)
As its common name suggests, this species of Disporum produces yellow flowers. These plants are native to Korea. 

Disporum viridescens (Green Fairy Bells)
Native to woodland areas and grassy slopes in northeastern China, eastern Russia, Japan, and Korea. This species reaches between 12 and 31 inches tall when in bloom. Greenish-white flowers appear in May through June, and are followed by black berry fruits. 

Caring for Disporum

These plants love moist, rich soil amended with plenty of organic matter. 

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Diasporum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 290, Disporum cantoniense
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