Chloranthus japonicus

Chloranthus japonicus, also known as Japanese Chloranthus, is part of a group of rare Asian rhizomatous perennial plants, perfectly hardy, interesting for dressing shady and cool areas of the garden, as well as slightly wet banks. Over time it forms large colonies, producing numerous dark stems adorned with glossy leaves that come to life in spring with pleasantly scented white flower spikes. This lush vegetation disappears in winter and reappears in spring. Chloranthus thrives in dappled light, in the atmosphere of a cool woodland, similar to Epimediums, ferns, and hostas.  

Chloranthus japonicus is an herbaceous perennial plant of the Chloranthaceae family. It is native to humid forests and stream banks in Japan, Korea, eastern Russia, and northern China. It develops rather slowly, through its short, thick, and trailing rhizomes, equipped with long fibrous roots. The stems, 35-40 cm (14-16in) tall, emerge from the ground in spring. They are stiff, closely packed together, dark in colour, almost black. Each stem carries 4 leaves positioned flat at the terminal part of the stems. The glossy leaves, 8 to 14 cm (3 to 6in) long and 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) wide, are ovate-elliptical in shape, strongly dentate at the edges, marked by visible veins. The leaf lamina is quite thick in texture, light green in colour at budburst, quickly becoming dark green. Flowering takes place in May-June at the end of the leafy stems, in the form of spikes 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) high, slightly fragrant. Each spike somewhat resembles a brush, composed of tiny white flowers without petals, with 3 prominent stamens.

Very graphic, elegant, comfortable in semi-shaded and cool areas, Chloranthus will appreciate an ordinary, light, fresh, humus-rich soil, from moist to slightly wet. Its main requirement is moist soil. It finds its place in deciduous woodland, under a clump of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or not far from a pond where it will form luxuriant ground cover from spring to autumn. This plant will blend well with all Asian plants suited to cool woodland: hostas, astilbes, ferns, Arisaema, Epimedium - or even our blue or white bluebells.