Disporopsis pernyi
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aulisconema pernyi
- Disporopsis fuscopicta var. arisanensis
- Polygonatum ensifolium
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-spor-OP-sis PER-nee-eye
- Description
-
Evergreen Solomon's seal is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial native to shaded mountain forests and streambanks in China. It has a clumping habit and grows 1 to 1.5 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Individual plants appear erect with arching leaves along purple-speckled stems. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and measure up to 5 inches long. In late spring, it has dainty, creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers that dangle from the stem either singularly or in clusters. Small bluish-purple berries appear in the fall. It is a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The specific epithet, pernyi, honors Paul Hubert Perny, a Catholic missionary to China in the late 1800s.
Plant in partial to full shade in moist, well-drained, organically rich soils. It will spread by rhizomes in the garden to form clumps or colonies, naturalizing to form a groundcover.
This plant is very similar to our native Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum. It has alternate, lance-shaped leaves, and its creamy-white flowers have green tips
Evergreen Solomon's seal provides a lush green understory groundcover and naturalizes readily. It is perfect for a Shade Garden or woodland setting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect pests or disease problems. Watch for slugs on tender young plants in the spring.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Little Hulk'
up to 24 inches tall, large and vigorous evergreen - 'Zebra Stripes'
up to 22 inches tall, variegated leaves, small white flowers
- 'Little Hulk'
- 'Little Hulk', 'Zebra Stripes'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Little Hulk'
up to 24 inches tall, large and vigorous evergreen - 'Zebra Stripes'
up to 22 inches tall, variegated leaves, small white flowers
- 'Little Hulk'
- 'Little Hulk', 'Zebra Stripes'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Disporopsis
- Species:
- pernyi
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South China to Taiwan
- Distribution:
- Native: China South-Central, China Southeast, and Taiwan
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-purple berries that ripen in the early fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White to cream 3/4" tubular bell-shaped flowers bloom from May through June. They are often singular or appear in clusters of 2-3 on drooping pedicles that appear from the underside of each leaf axil.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green, simple leathery, lanceolate to ellpitic leaves with entire margins.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green and speckled with purple.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
