Disporum bodinieri

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese fairy bells

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Synonyms

Disporum brachystemon

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial to around 90cm high, with branching stems bearing lance-shaped, slightly glossy green leaves with impressed veins and long, pointed tips. Pendent creamy-white, yellowish green, or occasionally purple flowers are borne in small clusters in late spring and early summer, followed by blue-black berries in autumn

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Colchicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Disporum are rhizomatous perennials with alternate leaves on sparsely branched stems, and solitary or clustered, nodding bell-shaped flowers in the leaf axils, followed by berries
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Tibet to SC China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in a cool, partially shaded position in a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove old stems before new growth emerges in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil, and to slugs and snails on young growth

Diseases

Generally disease-free