Temperate Asia and parts of Europe.
This rhizomatous flowering perennial is identifiable by its dominate ground coverage and sweet fragrance from its delicate flowers. It can be found in partial to fully shaded woody areas in most types of soil including dry and clay soils. Each plant that branches from the rhizomes have 2-3 parallel-veined lanceolate-ovate to elliptic green leaves (between 5-10" long and 1-3" wide). In the center of this clump of leaves is one stem that emerges standing erect to slightly arching with a one-sided raceme (4-9" long) with nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers (corollas 1/3" long) that bloom in early to mid spring. The individual raceme typically have 5-10 flowers. In the fall, globoid orange-red berries (each containing 1-6 seeds) may appear in replacement of the flowers. All parts of this plant are very poisonous since they contain cardiac glycosides.