This classical ghost garden plant is perfect for moist location .
Solomon ’s sealing wax ( Polygonatumspp . ) is a classic shade garden plant with arc stems that add an architectural component to garden beds . In spring , the stem turn are lined with small , bell - shaped , white blooming . These blossoms after give way to blue - bleak berries that wildlife love . This plant ’s spreading and clumping habit establish itan splendid groundcoverfor shady spot .
There ’s a world of little - known types of Solomon ’s seal of approval , include some variegate survival of the fittest , and many plant sizes are available . you’re able to find dwarf forms 6 inches tall and others up to 6 feet marvelous , with a few growing even taller . These are n’t normally found at commercial-grade garden centers , so check up on online or at local specialness nurseries .
Jerry Pavia.
These plants make cracking backdrops for othershade - loving perennials in the garden . New sprout of Solomon ’s sealskin emerge in spring and are decorative in their own right . In some varieties , this unexampled growth is gray - purple , which enhances the effect .
Solomon ’s seal blossoms come in only a few color . The most mutual is white with green tip . A few species offer bloom of youth in purple , pink , or orange . The flowers are often lightly fragrant . Once the blooms have finished , berry take their plaza .
Although bird and other wildlife enjoy them , Solomon ’s seal of approval berries are toxic to humans .
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Where to Plant Solomon’s Seal
Solomon ’s seal is a perennial in USDA Zones 3–9 . It thrive in moist , rich , well - run out soil and shady area , often under trees — think of woodland orshade gardens . Cool , humid , and shady locations are best .
How and When to Plant Solomon’s Seal
Solomon ’s seal plant are best set out as rhizomes in outflow or twilight . If the rhizome are large , cut them into minuscule slice ( each with growing node ) for multiple plant . Position them horizontally about 4–6 inches deep in moist soil and space them 3 feet apart because they will spread . A dappled shade placement is upright . Rhizomes can be dug up from an live plant in bounce after new growth appears .
Solomon’s Seal Care Tips
It ’s comparatively easy to uprise Solomon ’s seal if the plant ’s canonical needs are met .
Light
Due to their love of shade , these plants are often found growing in thedappled light under large tincture tree . They can maturate in full spook but may face more spindly . In the capitulation , Solomon ’s seal plough golden , which shows best where some sunshine can attain . If you found them in some Sunday , they ’ll do well in cool aurora sunshine than in raging afternoon sun .
Soil and Water
This works prefer rich soil with flock of organic matter and moisture . Once established , it can survive short periods of drouth fairly well . However , during prolonged ironical menstruum , it appreciates surplus H2O .
Temperature and Humidity
Solomon ’s seal is dauntless inUSDA zona 3 - 9 . It handles frigid temperatures better than live unity — another reason to set them in spectre .
This plant flourishes in humid areas , although a fungal disease that discolors the leave sometimes go on in location with very gamy humidity .
Fertilizer
Pruning
Solomon ’s seal does n’t require any pruning . The farewell drop , and the plant dies back to the land following a frost or two . If any stems persist , cut them to the ground . The industrial plant fall the next spring .
Potting and Repotting
Add Solomon ’s seal to a container garden by potting it in well - draining pot ground in a 12- to 18 - column inch - wide container . Due to the lack of space , it wo n’t create many fresh rootstalk while in a lot , but you may move it to shadowed or cooler spatial relation as the temperature heats up in the summer . The flora belike wo n’t expect repot for two or three years , but if any ascendant appear at the drainage hole , repot it in a larger container . The industrial plant dies back when winter get in , and the container can be leave behind outdoors or move into a sheltered area .
Pests and Problems
Solomon ’s stamp sawfly is a serious pestis . The gray - bloodless larvae are voracious eaters equal to of stripping the leave of absence from the plant . A vigilant gardener canpick the sawfly caterpillars off the leavesbefore they do much damage or employ a commercial product that contains a motley of nematodes that kill sawflies .
How to Propagate Solomon’s Seal
Solomon ’s sealskin flora are steady cultivator and can spring thick colonies over the year . These industrial plant spread through underground stems called rhizomes , which can bedivided in early spring or fallto produce more plants . Dig up the plants and cautiously separate or trend aside the rhizome , leaving several acquire points on each segmentation . Replant the rhizomes horizontally at 4 - 6 inches deep or the same growing deepness as the original plant . The rootstock make these plant promiscuous to contain if you do n’t need them spread .
Types of Solomon’s Seal
Common Solomon’s Seal
Polygonatumxhybridumhas mildly arc bow with dangling twosome or clusters of cream flower in late spring . The stout rhizomes are drought - tolerant and colonise well . It may reach 5 foot tall . zone 3 - 8 .
Variegated Fragrant Solomon’s Seal
Polygonatum odoratum‘Variegatum ’ has creamy - edged alternate leave of absence and pairs of hang creamy bell . It may grow 3 to 4 feet marvelous , is drought - broad , and is hardy in Zones 3 - 8 .
Solomon’s Seal Companion Plants
Bleeding Heart
Once you see ableeding heart ’s pink or white centre - shaped blooms , you know where the plant got its unwashed name . Bleeding warmness grows best in fond to full shade in moist , well - drained soil . Some character bloom only in spring , while others blossom in spring , summer , and fall , provide temperature are n’t too gamy .
Lungwort
In early spring , lungwort ’s brilliantblue , pink , or lily-white flowersbloom despite the coldest shiver . The rasping basal leave , spot or plain , always please and continue to be handsome into winter . Planted nigh as a weed - discouraging groundcover , in borders as edgings , or as smart accent plants , lungworts are workhorses that hold back their just looks . supply eminent - humus soil that retain moisture . Although lungworts can endure dry condition , be alert for mildew .
Columbine
Perfect for cottage and woodland gardens , quondam - fashioned columbine are usable in almost all the color of the rainbow . The intricate little flowers are commonly a combination of red , peach , and chickenhearted , but they also flower in blues , white , utter yellow , and pink . They look almost like folded paper lantern . columbine boom in Lord’s Day or partial shadein moist , well - drain grease . The plants lean to be short - lived , but they ego - seed pronto , often creating natural hybrids with other nearby columbines . If you want to prevent ego - seed , deadhead themafter they bloom .
Coral Bells
Exciting selections withincredible foliage patterns put coralbells on the map . Once love mainly for their spires of dainty reddish flower , coral buzzer are also uprise for the strange mottling and veining of different - colored leaves . The low clump of long - stemmed evergreen plant or semi - evergreen lob leaf make coral Melville Bell a fine groundcover plant . They savor humus - plentiful , moisture - continue dirt . mind of heaving in areas with frigid winter .
Garden Plan for Solomon’s Seal
Beginner Garden for Shade
This downcast - maintenance , foolproof shade garden is attractive in three seasons , but peculiarly throughout late wintertime and bounce . Witch hazelandastilbelight up the former season with their upbeat bloom . The strike leave of hosta and Solomon ’s seal ensure that the garden is attractive even when the plants are n’t bloom .
Frequently Asked Questions
bee , bumblebees , and hummingbirds bung on the ambrosia of the flowers . In some areas , cervid eat the foliation , jaw the industrial plant to about 6 inches from the primer . Chickens and woodland birds eat the berries .
The flora bloom for about three weeks in recent spring to early summertime . After that , they develop berries .
No . Solomon ’s seal spreads but is relatively slow - develop and easy to keep in line by labor up the rhizomes .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Although they are closely related and both in the lily folk , lily of the valleyis in theConvallariagenus , while Solomon ’s seal is in thePolygonatumgenus .
genus Polygonatum biflorum . North Carolina State University Extension
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: David McDonald
Credit: Mike Jensen
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
