Photo of Disporum uniflorum flower, foliage by Karl Gercens III

Photo by Karl Gercens III

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Disporum uniflorum

Also Known As

  • Disporum flavens
  • Disporum flavum
  • Fairy Bells
  • Korean Fairy Bells
  • Yellow Fairy Bells

Plant type

perennial

size

  • H: 24"-30"
  • W: 18"-24"

planting zones

  • 4a-9a

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Disporum uniflorum plant details

Disporum uniflorum is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In spring yellow flowers emerge followed by black fruit. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Disporum uniflorum

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: colchicaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 18 IN - 24 IN - wide, 24 IN - 30 IN - tall
Flowers: yellow blooms in spring
Uses: clumping, fall color, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Disporum uniflorum

USDA Zones: 4a - 9a
Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Disporum flavens (syn D. uniflorum) is an easy woodland perennial from Asia that grows to just over 24 inches high with an arching habit like Solomon's seal but with terminal, bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers at the tip of each stem. Black berries are often produced which are attractive in late summer. Photo: Wikipedia.
Disporum flavens is a clump-forming, upright, rhizomatous perennial with arching stems clothed with dark green, lance-shaped leaves. In spring, small clusters of 1-3 bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers unroll with the leaves and dangle at the stem ends for a showy display.
Emerges as tight clumps in spring and produces soft yellow bells at the same time, quite a display when mature. In summer it bears black berries, followed by yellow leaf fall color.
Solomon's Seal-like woodlander, the yellow flowers are among the largest and showiest of any we have seen. They came to us as flavum but the taxonomy of the cultivated Disporums is a mess; very choice in any event. ZONE 4
Blooms: spring, yellow, dark green foliage, blue fruit Zone 4-9. 2', China, part shade-shade, moist, well drained
a.k.a Disporum flavum. Korean Fairy Bells. So easy, so stunning, so underplanted. A dozen years ago, our buddy Margie Mott visited with a clump of this from one of the gardens she tended. She informed us we needed to grow this plant, and she was so right! This graceful shade plant emerges in mid spring with nodding butter yellow bells. The display carries on for a couple of weeks, after which the foliage remains attractive and well behaved. 24" tall. Slow at first, but long lived.
Pendant clusters of yellow bells makes this a refined and classy plant for the shade garden. Makes nice clumps and effortlessly combines with so many shade-loving plants. This Korean native is very hardy and a good doer.

Gardening facts about Disporum uniflorum plant

How to Grow Disporum uniflorum

  • Sun Exposure

    • mostly sun - shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture - regular
  • Soil Needs

    • acidic
    • average
    • well-drained
    • rich

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • yellow
  • Fruit

    • black
  • Flower Season

    • spring
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous

See other plant types of Disporum for your garden

aka Disporum longistylum 'Night Heron', Night Heron Chinese Fairy Bells, Night Heron Fairy Bells

Plant Type

Perennial

Zones

5a-9b

Size

Height: 4'-6'

Width: 2'-6'

  • mostly sun - mostly shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron' flower, foliage by Dancing Oaks Nursery
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aka Disporum cantoniense 'Green Giant', Chinese Fairy Bells, Fairy Bells

Plant Type

Perennial

Zones

7a-9b

Size

Height: 5'-6'

Width: 3'-4'

  • mostly sun - shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Disporum longistylum 'Green Giant' flower by plant lust
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aka Disporum sessile 'Variegata', Japanese Fairy Bell, Variegated Japanese Fairy-Bells, Varigated Fairy Bells

Plant Type

Perennial

Zones

4a-9b

Size

Height: 1'-2'

Width: 1'-2'

  • mostly sun - shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Disporum sessile 'Variegatum' flower, foliage by plant lust
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aka Golden Temple Chinese Fairy Bells

Plant Type

Perennial

Zones

5a-10b

Size

Height: 24"-30"

Width: 12"-24"

  • bright shade - mostly shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Disporum cantoniense 'Golden Temple' foliage by Cistus Nursery
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aka Disporum smithii, Fairy Bells, Fairy Lanterns

Plant Type

Perennial

Zones

6a-9b

Size

Height: 1'-2'

Width: 1'-2'

  • bright shade - shade
  • even moisture - drought tolerant
  • dry in summer
Photo of Prosartes smithii flower, foliage by J.G. in SF
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+33 more Disporum
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