Many-Leaved Herb Paris strip 'Alba'

Paris polyphylla 'Alba' is a rare and highly sought-after form of the fascinating Many-Leaved Herb Paris. It is an architectural perennial that features a single whorl of many lance-shaped leaves at the top of a sturdy stem. In late spring, it produces a truly unique flower consisting of greenish-white sepals and slender, yellowish-white petals, with a prominent white ovary in the centre that gives this cultivar its name. This is followed by a showy seed pod that splits to reveal bright red seeds in the autumn. It is a slow-growing but long-lived plant that adds a touch of the exotic to the woodland garden. It is hardy in the UK (H4) but requires a cool, moist, and very shady spot in fertile, humus-rich soil. It should be kept well-watered and protected from slugs, which can be a problem. It is a plant for the dedicated shade gardener who appreciates architectural form and subtle, unusual beauty. It is best left undisturbed once planted.

Sun: Full shade.

Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.