Growing Guide
 
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Solomon’s Seal, Great

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Polygonatum commutatum
Liliaceae Family

This tall-growing, woodland native brings drama to shady sites. Arching plants feature attractive ribbed foliage, rows of small, bell-like, white flowers and blue-black fruit.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full shade

Soil conditions:

  • tolerates droughty soil
  • tolerates damp soil
Prefers cool, moist soil. Tolerates droughty soil under trees once established.

Hardiness zones:

  • 3 to 7
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 3 to 7 feet

Reaches maximum height under ideal conditions on woodland edges and with plenty of space. For small gardens, P. biflorum is a better choice, growing just 2-3'.

Spread: 4 to 7 feet

Bloom time: late spring

Flower color: other

Greenish-white.

Foliage color:

  • medium green
  • dark green
  • variegated

'Variegatum' has variegated leaves.

Foliage texture: medium

Rows of ribbed 3-7" leaves.

Shape: herbaceous: other

Stems are gracefully arching.

Shape in flower: same as above

Flowers are small bells that hang beneath the foliage.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • non-aggressive - Provide lots of room. Spreading can cause problems in small gardens due to plants' large size.
  • non-invasive
  • native to North America - United States to Mexico.
  • bears ornamental fruit - Berries are bluish-black and last into fall.
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Division is easiest method. Divide in spring. Make sure several each division has several growing points. Seeds need stratification (cold treatment) to germinate.

Maintenance and care:
Mulch to keep the soil cooler in the summer months. Seldom needs division. Divide in spring.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials