Plant Min Zone: 5a
Plant Max Zone: 9a
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Spring
Flower Color: White
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: No Extreme Soils
Height: 0.25' - 0.5'
Width: 0.25' - 0.5'
Growth Rate: Extremely Slow
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Medium
Spreading Potential: Extremely Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Small Grouping of 3-5, Medium Grouping of 5-10
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover
Possible Pest Problems: Weed Competition, Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: Environmental Stress / Decline, Slow to Reach Mature Size
Solomon Seal (Polygonatum sp.) is a very large genus of perennials comprising dozens of species. Many of the species that are appropriate for garden use in Kansas are native to seasonally dry to moist forests in North America and Asia. New growth arises each year from a finger-like slowly spreading rhizome system. The foliage has a central stem with architecturally arranged opposite leaves covering the length of the stem gradually getting smaller towards the end. Small bell-shaped white flowers appear in early spring followed by bluish-purple fruit. Flowers and new spring growth is frost-hardy. Most Solomon seals do well with average garden soils and moisture with many tolerating dry-shade well. Solomon's seal can grow for many years increasing in density without ever needing division. Over time this creates a nearly weed-proof groundcover. in eastern Kansas with 40 inches of rain per year on average, there seems to be plenty of moisture to create extremely healthy patches of Solomon seal that compete well with tree roots. While some species can tolerate sun, there are many better choices as sunburning will likely occur with afternoon sun in temperatures over 95 degrees F. Combine with hostas or other shade plants to create a dramatic effect. Tiny Green Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum humile) is a miniture groundcover solonons seal only 4-8" tall. This cute plant is everything "solomon seal" just miniture! Best growth occurs in average to wet soils in part shade to full shade. Slowly spreading thin rhizomes form a colony in optimum growing conditions. In dry shade, the plant survives but goes dormant by mid-summer paving the way for weeds to come in so avoid these conditions.