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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Hydrangea quercifolia Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake'
Illicium floridanum Illicum floridanum
Saururus cernuus Saururus cernuus

Polygonatum

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
po-lig-oh-NAY-tum
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Solomon's Seal is a rhizomatous, erect or arching herbaceous perennial in the  Asparagaceae (Asparagus) family.  It does well in hardy zones 3-9. that reaches an average height of 6.5' tall. This plant blooms in late spring on unbranched stems. It is propagated by division of rhizomes. It is commonly planted in woodland gardens and shady, naturalized areas or flower gardens. This plant prefers shade and cool, organically rich, moist soil. It is tolerant of deep shade. It has no serious pest or disease problems. 

P. biflorum (Small Solomon's Seal) grows 3' tall and contains 1-3 flowers per axil. It is more suitable for small gardens.

P. biflorum var.commutatum (Giant Solomon's Seal) grows 6.5' tall and contains up to 8 flowers per axil. It forms in large groupings.

P. humile dwarf speices

P. odoratum var. pluriflorum  'Variegatum'  variegated cultivar. 

P. pubescens a version with hairy undersides to the leaves.

 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Alternate leaves on unbranched arching stems
  • Tubular, nodding, yellow-green flowers in axils
  • Leaves are two-ranked, parallel-veined
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Part Sun-Part Shade Garden Shady Garden in Cabarrus County Asian Garden - Zen Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
P. biflorum, P. biflorum var. commutatum, P. humile, P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', P. odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum', P. pubescens
Tags:
#showy flowers#rain garden#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#fall interest#erosion control#showy fruits#naturalizes#edible garden#fantz#wet soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#collier preserve tn#woodland
 
Polygonatum spp.
Polygonatum spp.
P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', late spring, Wake County, NC
P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', late spring, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', late spring, Wake County, NC
P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', late spring, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum', form, spring,
Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum', form, spring, Haywood County, NC Patty Felder CC BY 4.0
Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum', flower, sprin
Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum', flower, spring, Haywood County, NC Patty Felder CC BY 4.0
Wild Form
Wild Form Cabarrusco Hope Duckworth CC BY 4.0
Wild Form
Wild Form Cabarrusco Hope Duckworth CC BY 4.0
Early Spring - Durham County, NC
Early Spring - Durham County, NC Girish Bhatt CC BY-SA 4.0
Mid Spring - Durham County, NC
Mid Spring - Durham County, NC Girish Bhatt CC BY-SA 4.0
Late Spring - Durham County, NC
Late Spring - Durham County, NC Girish Bhatt CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
P. biflorum, P. biflorum var. commutatum, P. humile, P. odoratum 'Goldilocks', P. odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum', P. pubescens
Tags:
#showy flowers#rain garden#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shade garden#low maintenance#fall interest#erosion control#showy fruits#naturalizes#edible garden#fantz#wet soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#collier preserve tn#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Polygonatum
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Temp. Northern Hemisphere
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Shade
    Edibility:
    Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salad,
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Pendulous, black-blue 1/4" berries dangle from the leaf axils in the fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are yellowish-green to white, tubular campanulate, axillary, and are on 1 to 3 peduncles, nodding, on underside of leafy stem. These fragrant flowers smell lily-like and bloom from late spring to early summer May-June.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are usually alternate, upright, parallel-veined, distichate, simple, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, and entire. Leaves are 4" long and are attractive in flower arrangements. Leaves are sessile to short petiole.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are unbranched, and erect to arching.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heavy Shade
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, diarrhea.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Anthraquinone
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits