Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum), a native North Carolina perennial, can be found in the woods and clearings around the state. The plant prefers dappled shade, rich soil, and plenty of moisture. Some gardeners have enjoyed success growing it in the home garden. My stand, originally a single plant donated by a farm owner and transported miles in a cup, expands each year to project more of a presence in the native wildflower garden.
Solomon’s Seal should not be confused with False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa) which has a similar leaf but does not display the dangling blooms (shown in the next photo) along the underside of the main branch.
Solomon’s Seal often grows to a height of three feet with clusters of blooms along the stem. Each plant forms a gentle arc which allows the blossoms to dangle below. I took to the garden on a rainy morning to capture some family portraits. This particular plant entwined upward through a section of fencing, reached the top, then cascaded in a showy display.
Native Solomon’s Seal is showcased in the next photo behind its smaller Asian cousin, Variegated Solomon’s Seal. In my garden both plants are expanding their territory through underground rhizomes, and while I have thinned the variegated version and shared plants with multiple gardeners, the native Solomon’s Seal plays nicely in the garden. I might share one with a really good friend but doubt I would ever uproot and sentence any to the compost heap just to thwart the slow spread.
One characteristic of Solomon’s Seal is the formation of dark blue to black fruit in early fall. As the leaves change to the color of aged paper those berries become visible to the gardener who takes time to look for them.
Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/polygonatum-biflorum/
Photo by Beautifulcatya
An individual plant’s age can be estimated by examining the rhizome. Each year the stem leaves a scar, or “seal” on the rhizome. The number of these “seals” provides an accurate count of the age of the plant. The legend is that King Solomon himself placed his seal upon this plant when he recognized its great value in herbal medicine.
Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/polygonatum-biflorum/
Photo by James Jason Hollinger
Source: http://www.solomonsseal.net/abouttheplant.html
Photo by Sapphire Kate
The book of Ecclesiastes, the Bible record of Solomon’s quest for meaning in life, shares that the wisest man who ever lived was often busy in his gardens.
I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.
Ecclesiastes 2:5-6 NASB
From his agricultural experiences Solomon harvested wisdom to share with the rest of us.
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense. Proverbs 12:11 NASB
Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. Ecclesiastes 11:6 NASB
A wise man indeed!
For more information on Solomon’s Seal check the large selection of informational and pictorial sites on the web. The Wikipedia article referenced below reports that “as of June 2014, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 74 species and hybrids” of Solomon’s Seal. They might be tough to find at the local garden shop, though.
Sources:
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/solomons-seal/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/solomons-seal/caring-for-solomons-seal.htm
It’s such a beautiful plant! I love the way the leaves hang. <3
It has taken a while to get the native plant established but well worth the effort.