Plants in genus polygonatum
Polygonatum odoratum
Polygonatum odoratum is a colonizing herbaceous perennial native to Europe, the Caucasus, and parts of Asia. It features sturdy stalks with green leaves streaked with gold and bears scented tubular white flowers in spring. This plant spreads by underground stolons and produces dark blue fruit, making it a valuable addition to gardens for its ornamental and medicinal properties.
Polygonatum biflorum
Polygonatum biflorum, or native Solomon's seal, is a graceful woodland plant with arching stems and thumb-sized green leaves. It produces clusters of light greenish-white bell-shaped flowers in mid-spring, followed by small blue berries. This slow-spreading plant is native to eastern and central North America and thrives in shade to partial shade with medium to wet soil. Its rhizomes, which resemble the seal of King Solomon, are edible and have been used in herbal medicine. The plant is not invasive and adds a touch of elegance to woodland gardens.
Polygonatum cirrhifolium 'A1c378'
Polygonatum cirrhifolium 'A1c378' is a woodland plant with narrow leaves and curled tendrils, producing small white flower clusters in May. It grows to a height of 3 feet in cultivation and prefers partial shade.
Polygonatum hybridum 'Grace Barker'
Polygonatum hybridum 'Grace Barker' is a dwarf variegated plant with 10-inch stems and small, dark blue-green foliage with an irregular white border. This plant is known for its vigorous growth in colder climates, making it a resilient choice for gardeners. 'Grace Barker' is suitable for use in dry shade areas, as it thrives in light shade to full shade conditions. Its unique appearance and adaptability make it a popular choice for those looking to add a touch of elegance to their garden. This plant is a great option for creating a lush, green landscape with minimal maintenance.
Polygonatum infundiflorum 'Lemon Seoul'
Polygonatum infundiflorum 'Lemon Seoul', also known as fragrant Solomon's seal, forms a wide clump with tall stalks and large, silver-backed light green leaves. It produces white, bell-shaped flowers in early May that exude a sweet lemon fragrance. The foliage turns gold in the fall, and the plant produces large black fruit.
Polygonatum kingianum 'Orange Flower Form'
Polygonatum kingianum 'Orange Flower Form' is a shade-loving plant that grows from a rhizome, featuring whorled sets of narrow, dark green foliage. It produces bright-orange, bell-like flowers and climbs using curled loops at leaf ends. This plant becomes larger and taller with age, adding vertical interest to shaded areas.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Byakko'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Byakko' is a unique perennial known for its striking red stems and leaves that transition to a creamy white. It forms a clump about 30 inches tall and 2 feet wide over five years, making it a magical addition to woodland gardens. This plant is particularly attractive to butterflies and birds, and it thrives in part sun to shade conditions. It is also drought-tolerant and resistant to rabbits, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners. Originating from Japan and China, it is well-suited for creating a lush, variegated foliage display in shaded areas.
Polygonatum falcatum 'Tiger Stripes'
Polygonatum falcatum 'Tiger Stripes' is a variegated selection of Solomon's Seal with 2-foot long arching stalks. Its green leaves feature creamy veins that fade in summer heat, and the plant produces fruit clusters in September and October.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Pacman'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Pacman' is a compact perennial reaching up to 20 inches tall, introduced in 2013. It features heavily-pleated green leaves and unique purple-emerging, twisting stalks. The plant produces small, bell-shaped white flowers and spreads slowly through thick underground rhizomes. It thrives in shady conditions, making it a great choice for woodland gardens.
Polygonatum inflatum 'Chinbu'
Polygonatum inflatum 'Chinbu' is a perennial collected near Chinbu, Korea. It grows 18-inch tall stalks with large green, slightly twisted leaves and small green flowers in spring. This plant is easy to grow in typical woodland conditions.
Polygonatum inflatum 'Cheju Giant'
Polygonatum inflatum 'Cheju Giant' is a perennial plant originating from Korea's Cheju Island, notable for its long, pleated green leaves and dangling green flowers. In the fall, it produces large blue-black berries, adding seasonal interest. This plant grows over 2 feet tall and is well-suited for dry shade areas, making it a great choice for woodland gardens. It is also resistant to rabbits, adding to its appeal for gardeners looking for low-maintenance options.
Polygonatum latifolium 'Heronswood'
Polygonatum latifolium 'Heronswood', formerly known as Polygonatum hirtum, is a compact perennial with 1-foot long arched stems and green leaves. Small white bell-shaped flowers hang beneath the stems, starting to bloom in late April. This plant forms a 2-foot wide patch in five years and is easy to grow, making it a charming addition to shade gardens.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Chanticleer'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Chanticleer' is a unique perennial known for its large, silvery-backed leaves that sway gracefully in the breeze. Over 15 years, it can form a wide patch up to 6 feet across, with stalks reaching 3 feet in height. This plant is particularly attractive in shaded gardens and is resistant to rabbits. It is also known to attract butterflies and birds, making it a lively addition to any garden. Originating from Korea, China, and Japan, it thrives in part sun to shade conditions. Its white or cream flowers bloom in spring, adding a delicate touch to its robust foliage. The plant is drought-tolerant and suitable for dry shade areas, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings.
Polygonatum cryptanthum 'Crug'
Polygonatum cryptanthum 'Crug' is a unique Solomon's seal from Kyushu, Japan, featuring purple-based stalks and large green leaves. It produces small white flowers in mid-May and forms a 2-foot wide patch over five years. This plant is suitable for part sun to shade and attracts butterflies and birds.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' is a shade garden plant with fragrant white blooms and white and green striped foliage. It tolerates both dry and wet soil and produces blue-black berries in the fall. This plant is deer-resistant and suitable for erosion control.
Polygonatum humile 'Little Streaker'
Polygonatum humile 'Little Streaker' is a Japanese selection known for its dwarf stature and green leaves heavily striped with gold. This plant forms slowly spreading clumps and produces small white bells in mid-spring. Its compact size and striking foliage make it a charming addition to shade gardens or woodland settings.
Polygonatum orientale
Polygonatum orientale is an Asian equivalent of the US native Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum, featuring clumps of 3.5-foot tall stalks. In early May, clusters of white bells dangle beneath the stems. The plant's rhizomes produce smilagenin, which is used to treat cognitive dysfunction.
Polygonatum cyrtonema
Polygonatum cyrtonema is a rapidly growing plant native to southeastern China, known for its pendent, tubular white flowers with green tips that smell like cookie dough. It produces black fruit in the fall, adding interest to garden spaces.
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Jinguji'
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Jinguji' is a Japanese plant with 20-inch tall, arched, wine-red stems and egg-shaped green leaves. It features dangling white bells in spring and blue-black fruit in early fall, adding interest to shaded gardens.
Polygonatum falcatum 'Wedding Bells'
Polygonatum falcatum 'Wedding Bells' is a stunning plant from Korea's Cheju Island, known for its 2-foot long arched stems and dangling white bells tipped in green. This selection is more attractive than its Japanese counterparts and thrives in part sun to shade. It is suitable for USDA zones 4 to 9 and is a great addition to cottage and shade gardens.
Polygonatum macropodum
Polygonatum macropodum is a woodland garden plant native to the forested regions north of Beijing. It forms symmetrical clumps of arching stems with deeply-veined green leaves. In mid-May, it produces white clustered bell flowers, which are later replaced by blue fruit in late summer and fall.
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Chollipo'
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Chollipo' is a selection from the Taean Peninsula in South Korea, known for its reddish-purple stems and thick green leaves. This plant forms an 18-inch tall clump of arching stems, topped with white flowers in April and May. In fall, it produces large black fruit, adding interest to shaded garden areas.
Polygonatum falcatum 'Nippon Sunbeam'
Polygonatum falcatum 'Nippon Sunbeam' is a striking plant with variegated foliage and 30-inch long arching stalks. It features creamy white tubular flowers in early May and purple-black fruit clusters in late August, forming a 2-foot wide clump over five years.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Red Legs'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Red Legs' is distinguished by its bright carmine red stalks and large foliage, with leaves reaching up to 6 inches long. This selection is notable for having the largest leaves among red-stalked varieties, making it a striking addition to gardens.
Polygonatum kingianum 'Bellagio'
Polygonatum kingianum 'Bellagio' is a Chinese climbing Solomon's seal known for its prolific offsetting and clusters of bell-shaped orange flowers with chartreuse tips in spring. It emerges from a thick dormant rhizome and can reach up to 9 feet tall, typically climbing through neighboring plants. This plant prefers light shade and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 6a to 9b.
Polygonatum humile 'Shiro Shima'
Polygonatum humile 'Shiro Shima' is a dwarf plant with thumb-sized leaves streaked in green and creamy white. It forms a low patch and blooms with small white tubular flowers in early spring.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Fireworks'
Polygonatum odoratum 'Fireworks' is a Japanese selection of Solomon's seal, forming a patch of finger-like rhizomes. It grows 2 feet tall with egg-shaped green leaves flecked with creamy white, and small white bells dangling beneath the stem in spring. This plant thrives in shade but grows more vigorously with some sun.
Polygonatum filipes
Polygonatum filipes is native to southern China, featuring knobby rhizomes and arching stems with heavily-ribbed leaves. It produces greenish-white flowers in May, followed by blue-green berries.
Polygonatum prattii
Polygonatum prattii, or dwarf Solomon's seal, is found near Zhongdian, China, at sub-alpine elevations. It forms small clumps of 6-8 inch tall stems with tiny dark purple flowers in early spring. This plant is suitable for shade gardens and adds a delicate touch to rock gardens.