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Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum is often confused with:
Polygonatum biflorum Polygonatum biflorum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cornus amomum Cornus amomum
Hibiscus laevis Flowers
Viola pubescens Form

Giant Solomon's Seal Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Polygonatum canaliculatum
  • Polygonatum commutatum
  • Polygonatum giganteum
Phonetic Spelling
po-lig-oh-NAY-tum
Description

Giant Solomon's Seal is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower found in moist forested areas and roadbanks in the eastern U.S.A. and Canada.  As its common name suggests, this is a large Soloman seal reaching heights of 3 to 5, occasionally 7 feet. 

Plant it in medium to wet average soil in partial to full shade, though it does best with some sun.  It has attractive large leaves and clusters of white bell-shaped flowers that hang down.  It will spread in the landscape through its rhizomes, but it is very difficult to propagate by seed.  

There is considerable controversery surrounding the taxonomy of great Solomon's seal including making it a variety of P. biflorum as we have here but some argue it should be its own species so the names P. commutatum, P. giganteum, and  P. canaliculatum are used to varying degrees.

Use it in a rain, woodland or cottage garden, the back of a border, or let it naturalize in your yard.  Just make sure it has plenty of room as this plant larger than other Solomon seals.

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.

More information on Polygonatum biflorum.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Paths & Walkways
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#native perennials#low maintenance#showy fruits#specialized bees#bumblebee friendly#NC native#black fruits#naturalized area#border back#food source nectar#food source pollen#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#sweat bees#roadside#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#native perennials#low maintenance#showy fruits#specialized bees#bumblebee friendly#NC native#black fruits#naturalized area#border back#food source nectar#food source pollen#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#sweat bees#roadside#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Polygonatum
    Species:
    biflorum
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The rhizomes are quite starchy and were used by early Americans.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    Blue-black inedible (to humans) berries are very showy and appear September-October and are blue-black in color.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Description:
    Clusters in leaf axils of 2-10 bell shaped greenish white flowers bloom May-June.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Flowers have distinct parallet veins and reach 7" long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Erosion
    Wet Soil