Hooker's Fairy Bells

Disporum hookeri is an elegant, clump-forming perennial native to North American woodlands but perfectly at home in British gardens. It features gracefully arching, zig-zag stems clad in glossy, oval, bright green leaves. In late spring and early summer, small, pendant, creamy-white or greenish-white bell-shaped flowers hang from the ends of the stems, often hidden slightly by the foliage but adding a subtle charm. These are followed by attractive berries that ripen to a shiny red or orange in autumn, providing late-season interest. It prefers a cool, moist, dappled shade position and thrives in soils rich in organic matter. Hardy to H5, it is a reliable performer that adds a sense of refined structure to the shade border. It works well when combined with ferns and hostas, filling the mid-storey of a woodland planting scheme with its distinctive architectural habit.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist, acidic to neutral, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.