The flowers are white in colour and bell-shaped. They grow in a one-sided spike which droops to one side. The leaves are oval and untoothed.  They are basal and grow in pairs. Later in the season it produces orangey red berries which are poisonous.

Photograph on the plant in habitat (RPR if native)

Sometimes found in well established, dry woodland, but most likely to be encountered as a throw out or escape from cultivation.

Flowering season: May to June.

Rhizomatous perennial.

Fairly widespread in Britain, but usually occurs as an escape from cultivation.

It is listed in the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi and Evans 1988) in 6 tetrads, and in the Flora of Rutland (Messenger 1971) in 4 tetrads

It is listed on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward 2022) as Locally Rare (i.e. present in less than 3 sites) as a native species. 

It is usually encountered in our area as a garden throw out, an escape from cultivation, or as a deliberate introduction.