Dwarf Solomon's Seal Polygonatum humile
- Phonetic Spelling
- po-lig-oh-NAY-tum HEW-mil-ee
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Dwarf Solomon's Seal is a low growing herbaceous perennial in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family native to Asia. It spreads by pencil-sized rhizomes just below the soil surface in a small, low colony.
Plant it in organically rich moist soils in partial to full shade though it does best with some sun. In the spring flowers appear in the leaf axils followed by showy blue-black fruits.
Plant it in the front of borders, in a rock or cottage garden or use it as a ground cover in a woodland garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. The berries are poisonous if eaten, but they cause low toxicity.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Asian Garden - Zen Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polygonatum
- Species:
- humile
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salads.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Kazakhstan to Japan
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Textural
- Edibility:
- Shoots are edible after boiling.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-black berries hang from the axils.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tubular, bell-shaped 3/4" flowers in spring, borne in leaf axis. Typically one flower per axil, sometimes 2.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate ovate to laceolate 3" long green leaves, with parallel veins
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Upright stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
