Reply #6: Very slow to grow and apparently very particular. It's tough to be unique...lol.

[Dover]

Paris japonica
Although not a difficult plant to grow Paris japonica has a behaviour all its own and very distinct preferences. If you ignore these then you may get a dormant rhizome that does not die, but does not leaf up. Take some notice and you will be rewarded with a 30cm tall plant. Combine its preferences and you will get an 80cm specimen that will take your breath away! It is the attention to detail that produces those clumps that you see in photographs.

Firstly it is fully cold hardy and indeed likes to be grown cool, not hot. If anyone says otherwise, then I suggest that it is more to explain the loss of a plant, perhaps over winter, or perhaps missing in spring, rather than the first hand observation of a plant killed by cold - that just does not happen.

It likes full or part shade, and humidity, it dislikes dry air and direct sun. It prefers plenty of humus in the soil and an acid to neutral soil. It dislikes limey soils and will not thrive in clay over limestone. It likes water but it dislikes bad drainage or over-dry soils. That behaviour all of its own that I mentioned? Well Paris, at the best of times, may not appear above ground in their first two or three years after planting. This is frustrating but it is normal behaviour for the genus. In the case of Paris japonica two years is a short wait, three or even four might be normal, yes really. During this time the plant puts down its few, thick, brittle roots, and until it has roots to take up water, it will not make leaves or flowers to lose water!

During the settling in period each well-meaning poke, or lifting for examination, will break the roots or root initials, and set the plant back even further. Lifting it to check can only damage the plant, the roots and the new shoots. We call this 'finger blight' in the office and it is the main cause of problems.

Paris japonica is a plant for the very patient gardener, with faith. It is at the opposite end of the spectrum to bedding annuals, it is not instant, nor even quick, but very very slow. Put it in the ground, about 5-10cm deep. It may not have a well-developed shoot on receipt but if it does, and if this is long, keep the rhizome at the depth advised with the shoot showing above the soil surface. It is best in a damp, well-drained, humus-rich soil in light shade. Never, ever pot it, not even in its first season just to make sure (second only to finger blight in gardener-related problems) then leave it alone, don't lift it to check and in time you will be rewarded with a gorgeous plant.

http://rareplants.co.uk/page.asp?id=parisjapon