Description
(syn. gardenii)
This is often described as looking like an evergreen Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria) although the leaves are thicker and of a slightly yellowish green. It has 12cm spikes of open, starry bells, which are held sideways and not hanging as in Convallaria. The flowers have a light but delightful fragrance.
It likes light shade or dappled sun, in the garden and is easily grown in a humus-enriched soil such as suits other “woodsey species” such as Convallaria itself, Polygonatum and Trillium. It is best in outside, in a suitable garden spot, this doesn’t deserve to be tortured in a pot. Planted out the plant makes a tight, strongly perennial clump 15-20cm tall. It is said to have a spread of 45cm, but in 26 years of growing it here, it has only made clumps 30cm across. Fully hardy here over many years of growing it. This has has taken our all-time low of under -17°C (this is 0°F) in the ground and not batted a leaf (as it is virtually evergreen). Trouble-free though “never a bride, always a bridesmaid” applies here this is a quietly lovely little plant.
