Solomon's seal is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower found in moist forested areas and roadbanks in the eastern U.S.A. and Canada in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon. Solomon's seal grows 3 to 6 feet in height. and 2 to 4 feet wide. Plant it in medium to wet average soil in partial to full shade, though it does best with some sun. The seed should be collected and sown in September. If not sown when collected, treatment such as cold-moist stratification will be necessary. Rhizome cuttings may lie dormant for up to one year. Division can be done in the spring or fall when the plant is dormant. The pendulous flowers are creamy white, bell-shaped, 6-parted and appear in the leaf axils.. The flowers are followed by a blue to black berry. Use it in a rain, woodland, shade or cottage garden, the back of a border, or let it naturalize in your yard. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Watch for slugs and snails. More information on Polygonatum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Good Cut; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The green leaves have distinct parallel veins and reach up to 6 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pendulous 1/2 in. bell-shaped, 6-parted greenish-white flowers produced in leaf axils in groups of 2 to 10.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Blue-black inedible (to humans) berries are very showy and appear in September to October, are blue-black and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
Stem detail
Unbranched stem, erect or arching.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America, North Carolina
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , QC
Wildlife value
Roots consumed by mammals. Fruits attract birds.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots; Nuts; Shoots
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes. Rootstock can be eaten after boiled for 20 minutes.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the rhizomes as food. Thesed in herbal medicine. plant is u
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden