Disporum cantoniense Moonlight

Disporum cantionense Moonlight is a very pretty compact form with variegated foliage.  A Chinese perennial plant related to Solomon's Seal. Forming a flexible and slightly loose bushy clump, it illuminates shaded areas with a beautiful foliage splashed with white-cream that will take on lovely pink hues in late autumn. The spring flowering, in the form of pendulous bell-shaped flowers in a yellowish-white colour, is followed by the formation of small decorative berries, dark blue-black in colour. More or less evergreen depending on the severity of the winter, this variety can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C, regrowing from the stump in spring. It is perfect as groundcover at the base of spring shrubs, or in a pot on the terrace or balcony.

Disporum cantionense belongs to the Colchicaceae family. It is a perennial plant with a creeping rhizome without stolons that spreads over time without becoming invasive. It is native to Chinese forests, Taiwan, India, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam, where it can be found growing at altitudes between 700 and 3000m (2297 and 9842ft). The 'Moonlight' cultivar is a recent Dutch horticultural creation, a mutation of the Disporum cantoniense Aureovariegata, which is better known among gardeners.

This evergreen plant can withstand temperatures as low as -12°C, producing very flexible stems that are both upright and trailing, slightly branched, 50 cm (20in) tall, and forming a somewhat disorderly clump occupying at least 50 cm (20in) in area. The foliage consists of alternate leaves, measuring 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) long and 1 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) wide, strongly lanceolate, elongated, often beautifully twisted, with faintly marked veins. The leaves are heavily streaked and variegated with very pale cream to yellow on a light green background. The young leaves, remarkably bright, are almost white, while mature leaves take on lovely pink hues in November, due to the cold, in the cream variegations. The flowering occurs in May-June, in the form of pale yellowish-white tubular flowers, slightly open, 1 to 2 cm (1in) long, arranged in pendulous clusters of 3 to 10 units, arising from the terminal part of the stems or in the axils of the leaves. It is followed by spherical dark blue-black fruits, measuring 8-10 mm (1in) in diameter. 

The Canton Disporum is undoubtedly the most robust and easiest to grow in its genus, in shade and in moist soil, preferably non-calcareous. 'Moonlight' will therefore appreciate the coolest areas of the garden, where it will bring a graceful touch of light. It is easily grown in pots, allowing it to be associated with larger plants on the terrace that will provide the shade it seeks. This plant, which requires little care and tolerates competition from the roots of trees and shrubs, cannot tolerate drought. It should be planted in the undergrowth or in dappled sunlight (introduce several plants in a small area), to accompany the spring blooms of Magnolia, Kolwizia, Deutzia, spirea, lilac, flowering cherry trees. In these flowerbeds at the base of shrubs, for example, accompany it with Anemone 'Robinsoniana', Macleayas, and golden yellow buttercups. Superb in a flowerpot, associate it with blue squills, which it will succeed, place it under Fatsia, Papyrus, Colocasia...