Scientific Name
Polygonatum biflorum Elliott
Common Name(s)
Smooth Solomon's Seal, Great Solomon's Seal, Solomon's Seal, American Solomon's Seal, King Solomon's Seal
Synonym(s)
Polygonatum biflorum f. biflorum, Convallaria biflora, Polygonatum multiflorum var. biflorum, Salomonia biflora, Sigillaria biflora
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Polygonatum
Flower
Color: Greenish yellow
Bloom Time: Spring
Description
Polygonatum biflorum is a rhizomatous upright and arching wildflower. It typically grows in a mound on unbranched, up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall stems. Flowers are small, bell-shaped, greenish-yellow, usually appear in pairs, and dangle on short pedicels in spring from the leaf axils along and underneath the arching stems. Blue-black berries follow them in fall. Conspicuously parallel-veined, alternate leaves are up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, smooth on both sides, and turn an attractive yellow in fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 3a to 8b: from −40 °F (−40 °C) to 20 °F (−6.7 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Plants are usually started by transplants or rhizomes. Seeds of Polygonatum can take up to 2 years to sprout so that you will get some seeding in established plantings.
Solomon's Seal likes rich organic soil with a pH in the acidic to the neutral zone. These plants need some shade to thrive truly. The damp shade is even better, although they are quite drought-tolerant once established. Plants can be started in the spring or fall. Plant only 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) deep and about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) apart.
Solomon's Seal seldom needs division. It takes several years before a clump is large enough to divide for propagation purposes. When ready, divide in early spring or fall and leave several buds on each division for the best success. The rhizomes can be divided even further, but it will take longer to become established. Another option is to remove and plant just the offsets at the out edges of a clump.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Solomon's Seal.
Origin
This species is native to eastern and central North America.
Links
- Back to genus Polygonatum
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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