Striped Solomon's Seal 'Variegatum' Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Convallaria odorata
- Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum'
- Polygonatum planifilum
- Polygonatum quelpaertense
- Phonetic Spelling
- po-lig-oh-NAY-tum oh-DOR-a-tum var. pler-eh-FLOR-um 'var-ee-GATE-um'
- Description
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Fragrant Solomon's Seal is a herbaceous perennial of the asparagus family, and it is a native of China, Europe, Korea, Japan, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, Russia, Siberia, and Ukraine. The genus name is Greek in origin. "Poly" means "many," and "gonu" means knee joint referring to jointed plant rhizomes. "Odoratus" is Latin for "sweet smelling" and refers to the fragrance of its flowers. The name Solomon's Seal is believed to refer to the circular seals on the rhizomes or possibly in reference to its reported wound healing properties. In some species, the seal appears to be two overlapped triangles which were symbols or seals used by King Solomon, ruler of Israel, who reigned from 970 BC to 931 BC.
'Variegatum' is a popular cultivar that has bright green foliage with white edges, maroon tinged stems, and dangling white bell-shaped flowers. This shade-loving plant typically blooms from April to June and attracts bees and butterflies. The berries are attractive to birds. The plant is deer and rabbit resistant and tolerates heavy shade. It prefers moist humus-rich well-drained soil in partial to full shade and is somewhat drought tolerant once established. Tolerates the soil being occasionally wet or dry. It does best in cool summer climates. Division is the easiest way to propagate this plant and rhizomes may be dug in the spring or fall. Plant them horizontally just a few inches below the soil and keep moist until they are established.
Solomon's Seal is typically used as a shade-loving foliage plant and combines well with Hostas, Astilbes, and Bleeding Hearts. Its variegated leaves and small white bell-shaped flowers brighten and add variety to a shade garden. It can be slow to establish in the garden but is long lived and low maintenance.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: White flies, weevils, slugs, and snails can be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Foundation Planting: Back of House Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polygonatum
- Species:
- odoratum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and Butterflies obtain nectar from the flowers as well as provide pollination. Birds are attracted to the berries.
- Edibility:
- Young shoots may be boiled and served like asparagus; however, the stems and leaves (as well as berries) do have some poisonous symptoms.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- In the fall, blue black berries appear which are 1/4 inch in diameter and hang downward from the leaf axils.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flower is about 7/8 inches long, white, bell-shaped, and occurs either solitary or in pairs. The sweetly fragrant flowers droop from the leaf axils along or below the arching stem April-June
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are bright green with white edges. Each stem has 8-17 leaves which are alternate, upright, and elliptic to ovate/ oblong in shape. Each leaf measures 4 inches long. The fall color is yellow-brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Each arching angular stem grows singularly from a rhizome and is 18-24 inches long. They are burgundy red or dark maroon in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Dogs