Paris

Paris aff. incompleta

This species is allied to quadrifolia but it is stouter, more vigorous, has wide tepals and larger, creeping rhizomes. The leaf whorls have between 7 and 11 leaflets, whilst the green and yellowish flowers are also composed of "multi-part-sets" of petals, sepals and anthers, again 4-8 is normal.

I was highly surprised however when our stock of this species produced lovely, large, ghostly greenish-white flowers. This is not typical for the true species and indeed our plant has all of the hallmarks of being a distinct, perhaps new, species. It is simply too different from other incompleta and yet it answers to no other Paris, hence our name of “aff”.

This plant has tremendous garden potential, it is highly decorative and once established (for this is never fast in Paris), it is second only to the fabulous japonica in display potential.

Not difficult, once established, (this can be slow) in a well drained, slightly shaded leaf soil outside, NOT a pot where the stresses are too great to allow it to establish and ours are happy under just these conditions.

Paris incompletaparincinc	£25.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Paris japonica

Distinct from all other Paris, with large white flowers. Once established it will flower regularly and increase, although it does this only slowly.

Its short, stout rhizomes makes a stem from 25-80cm tall topped by a whorl of 6-10 leaves. Above the leaves is borne a sublime white flower 8cm in diameter.

This is not a difficult plant but it has a behaviour all its own and distinct preferences. If you ignore these then you may get a 30cm tall plant, if you take notice of them, or combine them you will get an 80cm specimen that will take your breath away! Nursery- produced, flowering sized rhizomes, which are slow to get to size, hence the price.

Paris japonica now has its own special page.

Paris japonicaparjapjap	£47.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Paris polyphylla

Tallish plants with a whorl of narrow green leaves below a further whorl of whiskery yellowish petals, looking like knotted yellow spiders! The ensemble is followed by brilliant red berries in autumn.

A choice plant for the peat bed or lightly shaded "woodsy" conditions, excellent with Trillýum. A native of the Himalayas, our stock was originally of eastern Indian origins.

Paris quadrifolia

The native and European species with (usually) four leaves in a whorl and a curious spidery green and yellow flower in May.

Growing conditions are exactly as for Tri11ium and the creeping rhizomes will increase gently when happy. It is easily pleased - forget the books which advise lime - although it will grow in limey soils, it does not have to have this.

Paris quadrifoliaparquaqua	£6.00		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Paris rugosa

A dwarf plant with four or five rounded leaves, each on a short red stalk. The plant is 12-15cm tall with the flower held above on a further 5cm stem.

This has four broad, green sepals with rugose (wrinkled) 4-5cm long, thin yellow petals, around a squat red ovary from which 8-9 red filaments hold short yellow anthers.

A nice, very distinct little plant. As with many Paris, this likes a year to settle before you can reasonably expect leaves or flowers. A nice, well drained, humus-rich soil in half shade would be perfection.

Paris thibetica

20-40cm tall stems with a dense whorl of narrow, undulate-edged leaves carry a single flower of lime green. The sepals are wide and form a nice overlapping foil for the red-brown ovary and the greatly elongated narrow, rolled petals. In the centre sit stout upright yellow anthers.

A distinctive and quietly attractive, hardy species, for a humus-rich soil in light shade.