Printed at http://www.quackingrassnursery.com/index.cfm/

 

Disporum cantoniense 'Indian Purple'

Fairy Bells

Plant Type:

SHADE PERENNIALS

Disporum cantoniense 'Indian Purple' - Indian Purple Fairy Bells rise to 36 inches or so on strong arching stems which sometimes branch. Beautiful, large and showy dark purple flowers emerge in spring followed by deep black-purple berries later in the season. Foliage is clean, dark green, semi-glossy and very handsome in the partly shaded woodland garden. Branched stems are not uncommon on larger, more mature specimens. This is eventually a robust plant but it is slow in pots the first year or two until it picks up in verve. Plant 'Indian Purple' in fertile, draining soil set in half day sun to open, dappled shade. Established pot grown plants.


Height:

36 in

Colors:

Purple

Zone:

5 to 9
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Disporum cantoniense 'Indian Purple'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / into Autumn

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant

Light

  • Sun Tolerant
  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Dappled Shade

Attributes

  • Cutting Garden
  • Border
  • Natural Garden
  • Massing
  • Woodland

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Draining
  • Fertile

Origins

  • India

Propagated By

  • Division

Genus Overview: Disporum

The Fairy Bells are fantastic woodland denizens closely allied with Solomon Seal and Bellwort. Stems arise and often arch as with their relatives providing an elegant appearance which contrasts well with other shade loverss. Flowers, too, are often showy occurring at the terminal tips of stems as in Smilacina but each floret is more in the appearance of the bell-shaped flowers of Polygonatum (Solomon Seal) and Uvularia (Bellwort). They all prefer fertile soil high in organic matter in morning sun/afternoon shade, open shade or dappled light conditions. The following offerings are established pot-grown divisions from our plants.