Description
This evergreen Chinese species grows from a slender, knobbly rhizome (a moniliform rhizome – one which looks like a string of beads). Arching stems, from 30-50 cm tall, carry alternate glossy dark green leaves and in this species the base of the stems is spotted and stained with purple-red.
As early as April (and into May) the upper leaf axils all bear 2 cm long white flowers, which are tinged with purple, marked with a little brown internally and they are pleasantly fragrant. Purple fruits follow in early Autumn.
A good, hardy, clump-forming perennial for moist, humus-rich, soil.