Polygonatum: growing and care, plus 13 of the best varieties

By Veronica Peerless

Published: Thursday, 14 April 2022 at 12:00 am

Do you get as excited as I do when you see the pointy spouts of beauty erupting from the spring soil like nature’s special sculptures in the billowing days of early spring?

Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal) are rhizomatous, herbaceous perennials and members of the Asparagaceae family. The species is found in Asia, Europe, and North America and the plants love a cool dappled shade. It’s great to see this genus finally making its mark, getting more attention among other new species being discovered and cultivated, so more available for you and me to buy and plant in our gardens.

The word Polygonatum comes from the Greek ‘many knees’ referring to the knobbly structure of the joints along the rhizome. The name Solomon’s seal comes from the scar left by the previous year’s stems when it detaches from the rhizome.

IN BRIEF

What Rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial with arching stems and bell-shaped flowers that are usually white and green and sometimes followed by berries.
Origins Asia, Europe and North America.
Season Flowering in late spring and summer. The foliage is good from early spring to autumn.
Size 10cm-2m.
Conditions Moist, rich but well drained soil in dappled shade. Some are epiphyte or lithophyte, and grow on trees or rocks.
Hardiness Depends on species but most are hardy for UK gardens.

The taxonomy of Polygonatum is a constant work in progress. Bleddyn Wynn-Jones of Crûg Farm Plants in Wales is among those working on the area. In recent years, because of modern-day plant hunters discovering many new species in Asia and their breeding of some beautiful cultivars, we all enjoy so much more variety and choice for the betterment of our gardens’ allure.

If you are new to Polygonatum, maybe start by growing some of the bomb-proof options – of which there are many. The common Solomon’s seal, Polygonatum x hybridum is a fantastic garden plant, which I grow in challenging areas of the garden – even in dry shade once the roots have been established.

Polygonatums need company. Ideally, they are grown with other plants that like similar growing conditions. Their flowers are quite subtle so I like to combine other interesting woodland foliage plants such as epimediums, primulas, polystichums, corydalis and hostas. Be careful not to overdo it with the combinations so that the plants don’t become too vigorous for each other. The more vigorous species Polygonatums’ flowers are quite subtle so I like to combine other interesting woodland foliage plants look good growing out of tellimas and tiarellas. Try growing less vigorous snowdrops and crocus with them to extend the season of interest in an area.