List 7 – Paris polyphylla
Paris polyphylla (paris)
Family: Melanthiaceae
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Size:
- 30 cm wide
- 1 m tall
Soil & Water requirements:
- Moist to wet, well-drained soil
- Humus-rich
Exposure:
- Shade to dappled or part shade
Leaves:
- Simple, erect stems; terminal whorl of leaves on each stem
- Herbaceous perennial
Flowers:
- Interesting fragrance
- Terminal flowers that have a strange and unique appearance
- Broad, green sepals (up to 8) and long, golden, threadlike petals
- Bright green stamens form radially out of a dark maroon center
Fruit:
- Small, red berries in the fall
Suitable uses:
- Woodland garden
- Shade garden
- Streamside
- High end residential
Other:
- Relatively expensive because the seed is rarely on the market; not always available
- One of the largest, most robust of the paris species
- Unique and interesting plant, however you need to be close to enjoy
- Rhizomatous
- The rhizomes of paris are very popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine; when the rhizomes are taken, the plant dies; this has caused issues in China regarding the balance of traditional cultural practices and ecological preservation