One of the more unusual fairy bells we grow is the Asian (Assam to Central China) Disporum longistylum. Starting in mid-April (NC), the open, upright stalks are adorned with clusters of small ivory flowers that form at the branch tips. In our climate, Disporum longistylum is evergreen down to 20 degrees F, but below that, it becomes deciduous. The cultivar Disporum ‘Lift Off’ is the tallest clone we’ve seen, reaching 5′ tall at JLBG. This is a Dan Hinkley selected seedling of his earlier introduction, Disporum ‘Green Giant’, which never achieved more than 3-4′ tall in our climate. In late fall and into early winter, the flowers are replaced with small blue/black fruit, which is usually retained all winter. Like our North American native woodland-loving fairy bells in the genus, Uvularia, it’s Asian counterpart, Disporum, is also in the Colchicum family. Below is our plant, photographed shortly before Christmas 2025.
Disporum longistylum ‘Lift Off’