Solomon's Seal

Polygonatum biflorum

Solomon's Seal is the backbone of the eastern woodland garden. the graceful, arching stems with alternately arranged leaves and pairs of small, pendant, greenish-white bells hanging from each leaf axil in spring create a horizontal rhythm that no other plant achieves in shade. The whole planting feels settled and right with Solomon's Seal in it, the architectural lines of the arching stems establishing a visual order that other plants build around. The fragrant spring flowers are subtle in color but lovely when viewed close, opening just as the foliage finishes unfurling. By fall, the blue-black berries ripen in small clusters along the stem where the flowers were, providing food for thrushes and bluebirds migrating through. The foliage turns warm gold before frost, adding a final season of color before the stems collapse. Solomon's Seal spreads by rhizome to form colonies, but at a manageable rate. a small planting becomes a handsome colony in five to ten years. It is one of the most reliably handsome, low-maintenance shade perennials in the eastern native plant palette.