Ornamental · Asparagaceae
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
With its arching stems in cool shade, Solomon's seal lends a garden the composed calm of a woodland glade.
Full shade
Every 3–7 days
USDA 3–9
3–6 ft · 0.9–1.8 m
Overview
Solomon's seal brings a quiet, unhurried elegance to the shaded parts of a garden. Grown for its gracefully arching stems rather than any loud display, it reads as poise rather than color, the kind of plant that settles a space instead of shouting across it. In spring its paired flowers hang discreetly beneath the stems, a detail the garden keeps almost to itself. As it spreads on its rhizome, it draws a slow, sweeping line through the shade that feels designed even when it is simply left alone.
Think of it as the plant for the corner that has always felt like a problem. Hardy through a wide range of climates, it wants little more than shade and ground kept moist and rich, and in return it composes those difficult, low-light stretches into something restful. Season after season it returns of its own accord, a touch taller and fuller, so the picture only deepens with time.
By late summer the flowers give way to blue-black berries that lend the border a moody, late-season note. They belong to the look, not the table: some kitchens cook the young shoots much as they would asparagus, but the berries and the raw plant are there to be admired rather than picked. It is a plant that rewards a slow walk through the garden at dusk.
Care
The short version: set it in part to full shade in rich, humusy soil, keep that soil evenly moist, and let it spread into a composed woodland scene on its own.
Light
Solomon's seal is a creature of shade, and that is where it looks its best. Give it part to full shade, the dappled light beneath trees or along a north wall, and it holds its poise; a hot, exposed position, by contrast, leaves it thin and scorched and out of keeping with the setting.
Water
Its whole mood depends on the cool, moist ground of a woodland floor, so keep the soil evenly moist. In dry weather that means watering every 3 to 7 days, and more through a heatwave. An established clump will carry a short dry spell, though the planting always reads better with steady moisture.
Soil
Set it into rich, humusy, well-drained ground worked through with organic matter, the sort of soil a shaded border wants anyway. It is relaxed about pH across 5.5 to 7.0, so the real attention goes to keeping the ground loose and generous with compost.
Temperature
Few plants ask so little of the climate. A cold-hardy perennial, it takes winters down to -40°F (-40°C) and summers up to about 86°F (30°C), its roots waiting out the cold season and rising again on cue in spring to redraw the scene.
Humidity
There is no number to chase and nothing to mist. Everyday outdoor air suits it, and what it truly favors is the cool, moist atmosphere of a shaded bed rather than a dry, sun-struck corner of the garden.
Feeding
It lives lightly. A balanced fertilizer in spring, or a simple top-dressing of compost as the new shoots emerge, keeps it content, and in the rich soil of a well-made woodland bed it may need no feeding at all.
Pruning
There is almost nothing to tidy. Cut the yellowed stems to the ground in late fall or after the first frost to close the season cleanly, and otherwise let the plant hold its slow, self-directed spread.
Repotting
This is a long-term resident that rarely wants disturbing, and a border is better for leaving it be. Divide a clump only when crowding dulls its vigor, or when the rhizomes begin to show at the soil surface and the planting has clearly filled its space.
Size & spacing
Given time, a clump rises 3 to 6 feet (91 to 183 cm) and spreads 2 to 4 feet (61 to 122 cm) across. Allow each plant that room so its arches can carry their full line and the colony can settle without crowding its companions in the bed.
When to plant
This is a plant to place with intention rather than rush from seed. Settle divisions or potted plants into their spot in spring or fall, while the soil holds its cool moisture, and look for the understated flowers through April and May as the season's arches rise.
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Plant: spring or fall
- Harvest: April to May
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 3–9
Temperature: down to -40°C
Troubleshooting
Solomon's seal keeps its troubles few, which is part of its easy charm in a designed border. The two issues that appear both trace back to where it has been placed, so the early signs quietly tell you whether to address a pest or rethink the setting. Read what you see and adjust before the picture suffers.
Sparse, leggy growth that loses its shape
When the stems stretch thin and the clump looks sparse, the setting is usually to blame, most often too much sun or dry, tired soil. In a hot, open spot the leaves scorch and yellow early and the whole line falters. Move it into part to full shade, mulch and water for even moisture, and work compost into the ground to bring the picture back.
Fix:
- Move or plant in part to full shade
- Mulch and water to keep soil evenly moist
- Amend soil with compost or organic matter
Ragged holes appearing in the foliage
Torn holes in the leaves are the mark of slugs and snails, drawn to the same cool, damp shade that makes this plant look so at home. Their silvery slime trails give them away. Pick them off after dark, lay down iron phosphate bait, and clear the leaf litter and lingering damp that shelter them, and the planting keeps its clean, composed look.
Fix:
- Hand-pick slugs in the evening
- Use iron phosphate slug bait
- Reduce excess moisture and remove debris near plants
Toxicity
For all its grace, this is a plant to place thoughtfully rather than treat as harmless. The young shoots are cooked and eaten in some kitchens, yet the blue-black berries and the raw plant carry saponins and anthraquinones that unsettle the stomach. The berries are the concern to plan around, so site them well away from children, cats, dogs, and grazing animals.
Toxic to
Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds · People
Cats Mild
A cat that nibbles the foliage or swallows a berry may drool, be sick, or pass loose stools. Solomon's seal isn't on the ASPCA toxic list and the risk stays low, but the berries are the part to keep out of a curious cat's reach, especially where the plant edges a favorite lounging spot.
Dogs Mild
A dog that chews a leaf or picks up a fallen berry usually comes away with mild stomach upset and a short bout of diarrhea. It rarely turns serious, though the saponins in the plant are reason enough to keep a curious dog from making a routine of it.
Horses Mild
Horses tend to pass over the bitter foliage, and a small taste usually settles with nothing worse than mild gut upset. Keep them away from the berries, where the trouble is concentrated.
Rabbits Mild
A rabbit that samples the leaves or berries can end up with soft stools and a sour stomach. It is best to keep every part of this plant off the menu as forage.
Livestock Mild
Grazing animals generally leave it alone, and the bitter taste limits how much they take. The saponins and anthraquinones can still bring on mild digestive upset if a hungry animal works through a patch.
Birds Mild
Wild birds eat the ripe berries and help carry the seed, a quiet part of the woodland picture, but a pet bird is far smaller and can react badly to the same fruit. Keep cage birds clear of the berries and foliage.
People Caution
Only the young shoots are eaten, and only after cooking, the way some cuisines treat them like asparagus. The blue-black berries and the raw plant hold saponins and anthraquinones that bring on nausea and diarrhea, so leave the fruit as part of the view and keep it away from children.
Keep the ornamental berries away from pets and children; wash hands after handling.
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
Poison Control: (800) 222-1222
Canada
Poison Centres: 1-844-764-7669
Varieties
The plain green species carries most gardens with ease, yet a few named forms are worth seeking when a scheme calls for a different scale or a lift of color.
Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum
Giant or Great Solomon's seal makes the boldest statement, its stout arching stems rising 3 to 7 feet tall and hanging up to 8 or more flowers at each leaf joint, ideal where a shaded bed needs real presence.
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum Variegatum
This variegated form is chosen for its foliage, its light green leaves cleanly edged in white and its fragrant flowers bringing a lift of brightness to a shaded corner.
Polygonatum humile
Dwarf Solomon's seal, a low Asian species topping out near 8 to 12 inches, suits the intimate scale of a small shade bed or the front edge of a border.
Companions
Solomon's seal belongs in the shade garden, beside the moisture-loving woodland plants that share its cool, dappled corner.
Plant near
Ferns: Share the same moist, shady woodland conditions and contrast in texture.
Hostas: Thrive in the same rich, shaded soil and complement the arching habit.
Astilbe: Enjoys similar moist shade and adds flower color beneath the foliage.
Wild ginger: A low woodland groundcover that pairs well in cool, dappled shade.
How to propagate
Extending a planting of Solomon's seal is a gentle project. Divide an established clump when you want to carry the look to another shaded corner, or grow it from seed and let the scheme fill in slowly over the years.
DivisionEasy
Spring or fall · 1 to 2 growing seasons
Division is the easy, dependable way to carry the planting further. In spring or fall, lift a clump and separate the rhizome into pieces, each keeping a growth bud, then set them where the scheme needs filling. The new divisions settle and knit together over 1 to 2 growing seasons.
SeedModerate
Fall (sown fresh) for cold stratification · 2 to 3 years or more
Seed is the patient route, better suited to the gardener willing to wait. Clean the seed from ripe berries and sow it outdoors in fall so the winter cold breaks its dormancy. Even so, count on 2 to 3 years or more before the young plants earn their place in the bed.
Myths
True Solomon's seal and False Solomon's seal are interchangeable in the garden.
They are not. The two look alike from across a bed but belong to different genera. True Solomon's seal (Polygonatum) lets its paired, bell-shaped flowers hang beneath the arching stem, while False Solomon's seal (Maianthemum racemosum) gathers its flowers and berries into a single plume at the stem tip. Once the eye learns that line, the two never blur together again.
The blue-black berries of Solomon's seal are safe to eat.
They are strictly for looking at. The berries are inedible and mildly toxic, holding anthraquinone that brings on vomiting and diarrhea if swallowed. Their glossy color draws a child's eye, so a planting near where children play is worth pointing out.