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Growing Perennials Series: Solomon's Seal
Gardening budz! I’m popping in to share a shade loving favorite and a recent bloomer from my yard, Solomon’s Seal. This one is rather new to me, I took my first little shoot from my mom’s house two growing seasons ago. Since then, it has become one of my favorite signs of spring, and I enjoy it’s variegated foliage and staggered leaves in my shady garden all summer long. I have my Solomon’s Seal tucked in a shady area with some hosta and ferns, and because the Solomon’s Seal has a bit of height and presence, it gives a lot of texture to that side of the garden. I really adore it, and am excited to see at least a dozen shoots popping up from my little Solomon’s Seal ‘grove’ this year.

If you have a shady spot in your garden, this plant is a total must. Typically it comes in two varieties, a solid green leaf and variegated leaf (seen in my garden). I am a sucker for texture in ma’ beds, and would highly recco the variegated variety to add visual interest and height to your green space. This perennial will float above other perennials in a garden in this perfectly airy and wonderful way. The thing that just gets me though, is those little tear drop shaped flowers that barely hang on to their branches. I love them! Later in the summer the flowers turn into little dark blue berries, and in the fall the leaves transform to a golden yellow.

Taking care of Solomon’s Seal is pretty easy. They like moist well drained soil but can handle a bit of sun. Leave a decent amount of space for them when planting rhizomes because they will spread out. My little section is about as much room as I can spare, therefore next year when a bunch of them pop up, I will dig ’em up and share with my friends. See? Also, for all you country folk, these bad boys are deer resistant.

Botanical name:
Polygonatum odoratum

Growing Perennials Series: Solomon's Seal

Growing Perennials Series: Solomon's Seal
Light:
Prefers shade to full shade to partial sun.

Watering:
Likes moist soil well drained soil.

Size:
Can grow up to 2 feet wide and 2+ feet tall.

Growing Perennials Series: Solomon's Seal

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10 comments… add one
  • Becky May 12, 2016

    Solomon’s seal is one of my favourites!

  • Sarah May 12, 2016

    I’m loooving your gardening series. I, too, have a mostly shady yard and rely on perennials to give my beds some structure. Looking forward to incorporating Solomon’s Seal for some height. So, thanks!

    • Scoops May 16, 2016

      I’m so glad that you like the series, I really worry that people get sick of my gardening posts. You’ll love the Solomon’s Seal!

  • Judi May 12, 2016

    Thank you so much for doing this series! I am not and have never been a gardener–city girl all my life until we moved to VT four years ago–but you empowered me to try something with a bed that we dug up last year right in front of the house, I thought, “Just go for it,” and today we planted a dwarf Japanese maple, two Spirea Ogon, two false cypress Goldthread, a variegated Euonymus and three trailing tri-colored sedum! And I have a lovely smokebush and two dwarf maiden grasses on order. They’re all being planted closer together than the recs in the hopes that they’ll flow together a la the Highline. Oh, and I’m contemplating some salvias for more color, and containers! I have no idea what the hell I’m doing (hope I don’t kill them all) and I’m having so much fun. Trust me, if you can make a 52-year-old city kid believe she can garden you can do it for anyone. Thanks, Scoops!

    • Scoops May 16, 2016

      Ooh, I love all your picks for your yard, especially the smoke bush Goldthread combo. You are doing it all the right way if you ask me, you have to be brave enough to try stuff out, the worst thing that happens is that you make a mistake and learn from it. And don’t worry about planting stuff too close together, it can always be moved around and rearranged if it starts to cause trouble. I hope you’re loving it!

      • Judi May 20, 2016

        Thank you! I love them all so far, too. And thank you for the continued empowerment! I think that’s what I was missin up until now–the “you can change stuff if it doesn’t work out” permission thing. Funny how I don’t have a problem drilling endless holes in walls and spackling later, but a garden always felt so…final. Not any more! (And it’s great morning alone time.)

  • Rachel May 12, 2016

    Ooh, love it! And we just cleared out some grass in a shady area for a new garden bed, so perfect timing! I’ll have to get my hands on some Solomon’s Seal. Thanks for the idea!

    • Scoops May 16, 2016

      Yeah, do it! I’m sure you’ll love it!

  • AlYssa May 23, 2016

    Thanks for doing this. My father-in-law dropped off some ferns over the weekend and thanks to this post I recognized that Solomon’s seal had hitched a ride. i found a nice spot for it and am looking forward to it fill out.

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