Another favourite shade plant of mine. There are variegated and non variegated varieties; some have fragrant flowers. The creamy white flowers dangle from the leaf axils in spring to early summer and then blue- black berries replace them. There are shorter varieties of 1-2 feet to a giant variety that can be 7 feet tall. They prefer cool shade; can be slow to establish but once they take hold they are steady increasers. They can be a bit invasive over time, but are easy enough to divide if they spread a little far. Slugs can occasionally be a problem, and the lily beetle as well, but I have found the beetle prefers plants in the sun. The foliage turns a lovely golden in the fall. This is not a dramatic plant, but what I would call a subtle beauty. It is very hardy, to zone 3.
