Yellow Fairy Bells

Disporum uniflorum (formerly D. flavens) is a refined and elegant perennial that brings a bright splash of colour to the UK woodland garden in spring. It produces strong, upright stems that branch at the top, reaching about 60cm in height. The foliage is a lush, glossy green, and in late spring, the plant is adorned with large, nodding, bright canary-yellow bell flowers that hang gracefully from the stems. These flowers are significantly more showy than many other woodland bells and are followed by blue-black berries in the autumn. Fully hardy (H5), it thrives in a sheltered, partially shaded position with moisture-retentive, humus-rich soil. It is a relatively slow-growing but long-lived and clump-forming plant that is quite easy to maintain. In the UK, it is particularly effective when planted alongside blue shades, such as bluebells or Brunnera, where the contrasting yellow blooms can really stand out. It is a reliable and high-quality woodland perennial.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.