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Melanthiaceae
Herb Paris
Paris quadrifolia
Perfect symmetry and ancient woodland mystery.
- Family
- Melanthiaceae
- Genus
- Paris
- Native to
- Europe, Temperate Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Spring
- Type
- rhizomatous perennial
- Height
- 15–40 cm
- Sunlight
- full shade
- Soil
- moist, humus-rich, calcareous woodland
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The name 'Paris' comes from Latin 'par' meaning equal — the four leaves, four petals, and four sepals are perfectly symmetrical.
- The single shiny black berry atop the whorl of leaves was once called 'devil's berry' and is mildly poisonous.
- Herb Paris is an indicator of ancient, undisturbed woodland — its presence suggests the forest is centuries old.
- The narrow yellow-green petals and thread-like sepals give the flower an eerie, alien appearance.
- It spreads extremely slowly via rhizomes, sometimes taking decades to form a small colony.
Color meanings
0
balance
1
danger
2
woodland secrecy