Description
There are many variegated forms of Disporum smilacinum in Japan, where variegation is highly esteemed. Some are simply lined or edged with white. This fabulous form has leaves which are ivory-white across their entire width, where they meet the stem that holds them. The ivory continues along the leaf for some way, gradually thinning and becoming lines on a deep green background. The majority of the leaf is however white, rather than green; the green probably constitutes less than 25% of the total area. It is completely stable with no tendency to revert to all-green forms and it really is a beauty.
The name seems to translate as “light of Koshi”, Koshi being both a historic province of Japan and a former district around Niigata.
As the season progresses then the colour of the variegation slowly changes from ivory to cream. In early summer there is an added bonus of hanging white “tiffany” lampshade flowers, with yellow anthers. This plant spreads very slowly, by underground offsets, but both these and mature roots are naturally very small, so please be warned that they do not look impressive upon arrival! Easy in humus-rich soil in shade.
New to our lists in October 2015
