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Plant of the Month: Polygonatum odoratum ABOUT US Arboretum Approved Bulbs Arboretum Approved Plants Benefits of Sponsorship Events PLANT LIBRARY All Annuals Annual Vines Annual Veggies Annual Herbs Annual - Foliage All Perennials Woody Perennials Evergreen Perennials Tropical Perennials Bulb Perennials Groundcover Perennials Perennial Grasses Perennial Ferns Perennial Vines Perennial Shrubs Foliage Perennials Perennial Herbs PHOTO LIBRARY RESOURCES Articles Videos Talks Frequently Asked Questions Plant Resources and Links Local Hotels CONTACT US Printer-Friendly Version Articles   »   Plant of the Month: Polygonatum odoratum Plant of the Month: Polygonatum odoratum Variegated Solomon's Seal From: Neil Sperry's Gardens  ::  Issue: November 28, 2007  ::  Link to Article AT A GLANCE:Latin Name: Polygonatum odoratum variegatumCommon Name: Variegated Solomon’s SealPlant type: perennialFlowers:  tiny cream-colored bellsFoliage: variegated, coarseMature height: 2 feetHardiness: winter hardy to Zone 4Soil: well-drained with organicamendmentExposure: shadeWater usage: mediumSources: local nurseries or mail order Shade in Texas — the Texas gardener’s lament! All those great shade plants listed in those hundreds of mail order catalogs we get are sure to languish and die in our heat. I’ve dreamed of giant hosta and all of those other great plants we can’t grow. Then I found variegated Solomon’s seal. I would never have guessed this plant would live here. Thanks to a gardening friend, I was proven wrong. Thefriend showed me a small branch of this plant and asked if I thought it would live here. I said absolutely not, and then was ushered to a whole bed filled with it on the side of their house. I love this plant in shade! Arching branches of foliage hold large leaves bordered with wide, creamy white edges. The spreading rhizomes will form large colonies eventually; I’ve had plants spread to 3 – 4 ft. across. Don’t try to use it as a groundcover, though. It can take a while before it starts to spread. In late spring the arching branches produce delicate little one-inch bells of flowers under the leaves. If you aren’t looking for them, you’ll miss them. I’ve seen this plant sold in local nurseries in quart and one-gallon containers. It is also readily available from mail order companies. Plant it in shade under deciduous trees or on the north side of the house. I have noticed that this plant does not like any direct sunlight during the day. Amend the soil with organic matter and water regularly during dry spells. Once plants are established, they are quite drought tolerant. I use it as a companion plant with wood fern (Thelypteris kunthii). The variegated foliage complements the lacy, soft-textured foliage of the fern. In case you are curious, the name "Solomon’s Seal" is taken from the shape of the scar on the rhizome where the stem attaches. In some species this scar takes the form of two overlapped triangles, the ancient symbol of King Solomon. Home  |   About  |   Plant Library  |   Photo Library  |   Resources  |   Donations  |   Events  |   Sponsors  |   Contact © Copyright 2023 Dallas Arboretum Trial Gardens. All Rights Reserved. Site Produced by Clarity Connect, Inc. Megan Proska, Director of Horticulture 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218 (214) 515-6592