Small Solomon's Seal Polygonatum biflorum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Polygonatum commutatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- po-lig-oh-NAY-tum by-FLOR-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Solomon's seal is a native wildflower, growing in all areas of North Carolina except the southeastern coast. Grow it for its beautiful arching stems with perfectly oriented leaves. The small cream-colored flowers are borne in twos, as are the bluish-black, fleshy fruits.
It is a perennial herb with erect or arching, unbranched stems. The leaves are in one plane. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, 6-parted, with 1-2 hanging in the leaf axils. The flowers are followed by a blue to black berry.
It is found in dry to moist, often rocky woods and thickets. In the landscape flower garden grow as cultivated ornamental herbaceous perennial. It does best in rich woodland soil but quite versatile, will do well in other natural areas.
Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into a salad. The berries, if eaten are poisonous.
The root is rhizomatous but non-colonizing.
Seed should be collected and sown in September. If not sown when collected, treatment such as cold-moist stratification will be necessary. Rhizome cuttings may lie dormant for up to one year. Division can be done in the spring or fall when the plant is dormant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. biflorum
Small Solomon's Seal, moist to dry forests
var. commutatum
- 'Variegatum'
Showy light green leaves edged with white.
Giant Solomon's Seal - var. biflorum
- var. biflorum, var. commutatum, 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. biflorum
Small Solomon's Seal, moist to dry forests
var. commutatum
- 'Variegatum'
Showy light green leaves edged with white.
Giant Solomon's Seal - var. biflorum
- var. biflorum, var. commutatum, 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polygonatum
- Species:
- biflorum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, North Carolina
- Wildlife Value:
- Roots consumed by mammals. Fruits attract birds.
- Edibility:
- Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes. Rootstock can be eaten after boiled for 20 minutes.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
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-
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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round bluish black berries, .25-.5"
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.5 in. bell-shaped, 6-parted greenish-white flowers produced in leaf axils hang downward
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 8-17 veined leaves.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Unbranched stem, erect or arching. 1-5' tall.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
