Description
This very choice woodland perennial is found only in a few montane woodlands in central Honshu, Japan.
It has attractive, divided, ferny foliage standing between 35 and 55 cm tall, rarely larger and always controlled by the amount of water, shade and humidity – it is shorter and less luxurious if too dry.
From July onwards to about September it bears nodding, opalescent white flowers in slender elegant spikes, hovering over the leaves. On closer examination the flower can be seen to be infused with amethyst-violet on the mouth.
It is slow growing and rarely seen, but it is not in fact difficult if given humus-rich, semi-shaded conditions. Attention to detail and site, sheltered from drying winds, in a leaf- or peat-rich, moist but well-drained soil will bring it to perfection. It does not like dryness at the roots or in the air (though do not even think ‘garden pond’ – it likes good drainage as well as water). This is a grow-me plant that oozes class, elegance and understatement from every shoot.
