Description
A species that we have not been able to offer for some years, but which is now re-introduced with a small fanfare.
“Spotted Fairy Bells” or “nodding mandarin” lives up to its name, with open starry mob-cap shaped flowers of near white to pale primrose, the inner surfaces of which are sprinkled with the tiniest dots and spickles of purple. A neat and tidy little plant, seldom over 30cm here, though said to be capable of 80cm, with branched stems that produce a goodly number of flowers per shoot, and a very slowly clumping habit that will endear it to you. A little filip is the production of small orange-red berries late in the summer.
Takes a year to establish its roots, then makes a nice display each year. Light shade, humus rich soil.
In the wild this seems to be never common but it is widely spread from Ontario south into New York state and then further south again as far as Georgia and Arkansas.
