Disporum

Another genus which can be tricky to pin down, with 15 to 40 species likely. However they are well worth growing in a shady bed, woodland, or if in some sun, with a soil which retains more moisture. They are similar to Polygonatum & Disporopsis, but tend to have larger flowers. The flowers are also similar to Uvularia, but with Disporum they are often on branched stems and so can make a bulkier more dramatic plant. To add to the confusion they have been in families, Uvulariaceae, Convallariaceae, Asparagaceae, but are currently settled in Colchiaceae!

Drooping flowers in a shady spot are attractive to the relatively small range of pollinators such as bees to be found in shadier spots, and the berries are edible to garden birds and probably mammals. The cover provided by the clumped shoots gives shelter to a range of beneficial insects including ground-beetles, very useful to keep any slugs under control.