Chloranthus fortunei

Chloranthus fortunei, also known as Fortune's Chloranthus, is a rare Asian perennial rhizomatous plant, perfectly hardy, interesting for dressing shade or cool partial shade. Over time, it forms large colonies, producing numerous dark stems adorned with large leaves that come to life in spring with slightly fragrant white flower spikes. This lush vegetation disappears in winter and reappears in spring. The Chloranthus thrives in dappled light, in the ambience of a cool woodland, much like Epimedium, ferns, and hostas.  

Chloranthus fortunei is an herbaceous perennial plant of the Chloranthaceae family. It is native to forests in Japan and China. It develops, rather slowly, through its short, thick, and creeping rhizomes, equipped with long fibrous roots. The stems, 35-40 cm (14-16in) tall, emerge from the ground in spring; they are upright, closely packed together and dark, almost black, in colour. Each stem bears 4 leaves positioned flat on the terminal part of the stems. The leaves, 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4in) long and 3 to 7 cm (1 to 3in) wide, are ovate-elliptical in shape, strongly toothed along the edges, marked by visible veins. The leaf lamina is quite thick in texture, light green when budding, quickly becoming dark green. Flowering takes place in April-May, at the end of the leafy stems, in the form of spikes 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) tall, slightly fragrant. Each spike somewhat resembles a brush, composed of tiny white flowers without petals, with 3 protruding stamens.

Very striking, elegant, comfortable in partially shaded and cool areas, Chloranthus fortunei will appreciate an ordinary, light, fresh, humus-rich soil, moist to damp. Its main requirement is a moist soil. It fits well under deciduous trees or a grove of deciduous shrubs, or not far from a pond where it will form luxuriant ground cover from spring to autumn. This plant will associate well with all Asian plants of cool woodland: hostas, astilbes, ferns, Arisaema, Epimedium, or indeed European blue or white bluebells.