Disporums (Fairy Bells or Fairy Lanterns) are perennials from North America and Japan. Disporum smithii is a spreading plant with oval to lance-shaped, mid-green leaves, which are heart-shaped at the base. The small, drooping flowers are tubular-bell-shaped. They are produced singly or in terminal clusters of 2 to 6, in the spring. They are white tipped with green. The flowers are followed by oval, orange-red berries. This plant grows from 12 to 14 inches high with a spread of 2 feet or more. It is found in the warmer parts of North America. Disporum sessile var. variegatum grows up to 18 inches high with a spread of 12 inches or more. Its oval-lance-shaped leaves are green striped unevenly with white. In the spring, it produces flowers resembling those of Disporum smithii.

Fairy Bells prefer soil that is cool, moist and peaty or woodsy, in a position with partial shade.

Seeds may be sown in the fall as soon as they are ripe, or they may be divided before new growth begins in the spring.

Disporum smithii;
Disporum sessile var. variegatum;
Disporum Hookeri;
Disporum lanuginosum;
Disporum maculatum;
Disporum oreganum;
Disporum trachycarpum.