Disporum uniflorum (D. flavum, D. sessile var. flavens)

Description

Disporum uniflorum (flavum)

Yellow Fairy Bells, Korean Fairy Bells. A lovely hardy species which grows a dense clump of stiffly upright stems 60cm tall that weep over at the top before producing long pendant bells of bright pale yellow. Each flower is 4cm long and produced singly to the stem, though produced from many branches of the stem. The flowers are followed by persistent black berries. From Korea and Manchuria where it is a common ingredient in traditional medicines such as baldness cures, despite being mildly toxic and showing now proven benefits whatsoever.

Disporum comes from the Greek ‘di2 = two and ‘spora’ = seed, referring to the two seeded fruits of the Genus. Liliaceae (Colchicaceae)