Paris quadrifolia - Herb-Paris

The Four-leaf Paris, in Latin Paris quadrifolia, known as Paris Herb or Wolf-strangler, is a perennial plant used in homeopathy that is found in many cool regions of Europe where it always grows in wet and shaded places. In the garden, if the conditions are right, the Paris plant eventually forms a low-maintenance and quite unique ground cover composed of stems carrying a collar of leaves that hold in its centre a single erect greenish flower with thread-like yellow petals, and then an inedible fruit that closely resembles a blueberry. It is undoubtedly the appearance of this fruit that has earned it the vivid nickname of Fox Grape.

Paris quadrifolia belongs to the family of Melanthiaceae. This species is native to Western Europe (including France) and the North, where it tends to become rare due to disturbance of its habitat. It is present in deciduous forests, on the edges of undergrowth, and not far from watercourses, up to 2,200m (7000ft) altitude. It is an herbaceous plant that has a rhizomatous root system allowing it to colonize the soil. Its growth is rather slow, and its vegetation disappears in winter. In March-April, stems of 30 to 35cm (12 to 14in) in height emerge from the ground. They carry 3 to 6 oval to lanceolate leaves, with clearly visible parallel veins, arranged in whorls, meaning they are inserted almost at the same level around the stems. Their colour is a medium green, slightly glossy. In June-July, Paris produces curious star-shaped flowers, consisting of small bracts of chartreuse green colour and very fine petals, reduced to yellow filaments. The fruit forms quickly. It is globose, the size of a blueberry, and dark violet when ripe. The entire plant is toxic if ingested.

Adapted to rather dark and humid undergrowth, Paris quadrifolia thrives easily in soils rich in organic matter, always slightly moist, preferably on limestone substrates. Plant it in a garden that allows space for nature, in a favourable location, in the company of other shade-loving plants such as Heucheras, Tiarellas, Hellebores, or even with the false-capillary fern, for example.