Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Today's Favorite Plant - Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron'

My favorite plant today is Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron'.

The reason it is my favorite today, is that I originally planted it in 2010 and every year it has come up, I have accidentally stepped on it!

I don't know why I keep stepping on it really?!?

Some cosmic force makes me smash the life out if it each year after it starts coming up.

It's slightly hidden behind an Azalea where it is planted and the foliage is so dark, I guess I don't notice it among the bark mulch.



BUT this year I "just said no" to going anywhere near it. I haven't even really cleaned up in that entire garden section this spring. I was positive I wouldn't crush it this year with my clumsy big man-feet. 

'Night Heron' is a lovely, easy to grow perennial for shade. The foliage emerges black and unfurls into a bamboo-like shape arching to about 3'. The flowers are chartreuse bells in late April/early May.

It handles dry shade well and likes rich well-drained soil in woodland conditions. No problems with mine growing under the black walnut tree either, well, other than me trying to snuff out its life. 

Hardy to Zone 6. 











3 comments:

  1. Sometimes the best way to take care of something is to leave it alone for awhile. Maybe you could put some dwarf golden acorus or something similar at the base to highlight the dark foliage as it emerges? Such a cool plant. Glad you get to enjoy it this year!

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  2. I LOVE this plant, and I'm jealous of yours as mine died last winter, I don't know why but it just never came back. Of course I planted a replacement...

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