Solomon's seal is reminiscent of lily of the valley. They are also early flowering plants that decorate certain areas of the garden with white flowers. In the right location, the plants require little care. The fast-growing plants will delight hobby gardeners for years as ornamental foliage and flower plants.
What are the special features of Solomon's seal plants?
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum) are perennial, herbaceous plants from the asparagus family. They are suitable for shady to semi-shady locations and have white, hanging flowers. The plants are poisonous in all parts, but valued in medicine for their wound healing properties.
Origin
Behind the name Solomon's Seal lies the genus Polygonatum, which is also known as Weißwurzen. They belong to the asparagus family with around 70 species. The plants are native to China. Four species have colonized habitats in Central Europe. Here they grow in shady locations with moderately moist soil. The multi-flowered whitewort (Polygonatum multiflorum) and the Solomon's seal (Polygonatum orodatum) are important as ornamental plants.
Typical habitats:
- Deciduous and mixed forests with herb-rich undergrowth
- Perennial borders
- bushes
Growth
Solomon's seal grows as perennial plants with herbaceous shoots. They develop underground rhizomes as a survival organ. These are nodular, thickened and often branched. Every year a new node appears on the root tuber, so you can estimate the age of the plant based on its thickenings. Fine and fleshy roots form on the rhizomes, which spread through the substrate and are responsible for supplying nutrients.
The above-ground shoot axis grows upright or slightly curved back. In the real Solomon's seal it is smooth and sharply square. The multi-flowered white root also develops a smooth stem that appears round or blunt-edged in cross section. These two species reach heights of between 15 and 60 centimeters. If the conditions are perfect, the plants can grow to a height of 100 centimeters. There are low Polygonatum species such as the dwarf Solomon's seal from Japan, which grows up to 30 centimeters high.
leaves
The leaves of the white root are arranged alternately. They stand in two rows and are sessile or have very short stems. Its simple leaf blade is elongated or slightly ovoid and has parallel veins. The twelve to 17 centimeter long leaves are dark green on the upper side. Underneath they appear lighter and have gray-green frost.
Bloom
While the multi-flowered white root develops three to five flowers in one inflorescence, one to two flowers grow together in groups on the Solomon's seal. The inflorescences arise from the leaf axils. The drooping appearance of the flowers is typical of the species. They follow a threefold structure and are hermaphroditic. Six creamy white and identically shaped flower bracts have grown together to form a tube. The crown tube ends in six greenish-tinted tips. All floral organs are hidden deep in the flower.
Flowering time
Both species bloom between May and June. The Solomon's seal exudes a slightly sweet scent during the flowering period, which gave the plant the Latin suffix orodatum. This is why the species is also called fragrant white root. The many-flowered white root has no scent.
Fruit
Between August and September, berries ripen according to the number of flowers. They are blue-black in color and often frosted. Each berry contains between seven and nine seeds.
Usage
Polygonatum species are suitable for planting under trees. As typical forest species, the herbaceous plants decorate natural gardens with old trees. They grow in border areas or perennial plantings and give rocky steppes a mystical character. Whiteworts look very elegant between lady's mantle, foxgloves and lily of the valley.
The foreground of wild hedges gets bright color accents with the delicate plants. They harmonize with rhododendrons, hostas and azaleas. Solomon's seal cuts a good figure both in a group and individually. The herbaceous plant decorates early blooming beds and makes a good planting for pots and balcony boxes.
These are good planting partners in the shade bed:
- Ferns
- Hostas
- low growing astilbe
- Forest grasses
Is Solomon's seal poisonous?
Polygonatum species are poisonous in all parts of the plant. The berries in particular contain various toxins such as celandine and jervic acid, homoserine lactone and saponins.
In medicine, the plant parts are used to heal wounds because of their antibacterial effects. After consumption, various symptoms may occur such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Although the toxicity is considered mild, children and pets should not be tempted and should avoid sampling.read more
Which location is suitable?
The plants prefer a shady to semi-shady location. Places under trees that are next to streams or larger bodies of water are ideal.read more
What soil does the plant need?
A well-drained soil ensures that waterlogging does not form. The plants are less sensitive to wet conditions. Solomon's seals grow particularly well in moist soil that may be slightly boggy. A humus-rich substrate offers the plants optimal growth conditions. They like a calcareous soil.
What is the best time to plant?
The best time to plant the plants is in early spring, because Solomon's seals decorate the garden with lush flowers in the same year. Freshly separated rhizomes are planted in autumn.
The correct planting distance
Solomon's seals are between 20 and 40 centimeters wide, depending on the species. They should be planted in the bed according to their growth width. Make sure there is a minimum distance of 25 centimeters. To ensure that the plants develop a densely bushy population, you can plant ten to twelve plants per square meter. The plants become more beautiful every year. It takes some time until Solomon's seals impress with their stately growth.
Multiply Solomon's Seal
The rhizomatous plants can be propagated by division and thus rejuvenated. To do this, dig up a he althy plant in the fall and divide a strong rootstock with a sharp knife. You can orientate yourself on the knotty thickenings that serve as a predetermined breaking point. The rhizomes can often be divided by breaking off a thickening. The section should have as many fine roots as possible so that it can grow more quickly in the new location. The mother plant should also have a sufficient network of fine roots..
The soil at the new location should be loosened well. A digging fork (€139.00 at Amazon) is perfect because it penetrates into deeper layers of the earth. Plant the section at the same depth at which the mother plant is growing. Press the substrate down and water the soil sufficiently so that air holes close and the tuber grows better. In the next few years, the daughter plant should not be disturbed by digging it up. It takes some time for new thickenings to form at the root.
Sowing
Solomon's Seals can be propagated by seeds. The cold germinators need a cold stimulus that stimulates the seeds. This can occur naturally due to the onset of winter or artificially.
In the garden
If you collect fruit in autumn, you should remove the pulp from the seeds and let them dry. Sow the seeds directly outdoors shortly before winter. Choose a partially shaded location where the substrate has humus properties. When the snow melts next year, the seed coat swells and germination begins. If you sow the seeds in spring, germination will also not occur until after winter in the following year.
In the house
You can have a positive effect on the germination process by storing the seeds in a warm place with temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius for four weeks. Scatter the seeds into a freezer bag filled with sand and store it in the refrigerator for four to six weeks. Check the moisture of the substrate regularly. This measure serves as stratification.
Then scatter the seeds on a growing substrate and place the planter in a cool place with temperatures between zero and twelve degrees Celsius. Large jumps in temperature should be avoided in order not to interrupt the germination process. As soon as the first leaves appear, the plants are pricked out. In April, the young plants can be planted at the desired location in the garden.
Solomon's seal in the pot
Low Polygonatum species are suitable for container planting. Taller growing species should be planted in the garden the following year. You can plant a broken root tuber directly into a container. Use a structurally stable substrate that does not compact immediately after pouring. High-quality mixtures contain proportions of lava, pumice, sand, clay and other mineral components.
The suitable vessel:
- made of clay or terracotta
- has a trigger hole
- can be both round and wide shaped
Balcony
The dwarf Solomon's seal also grows splendidly in the balcony box, as it requires less space than higher-growing Polygonatum species. With this plant you can add colorful accents to shady, north-facing balconies. Make sure you have a light windbreak. The plants are protected from strong winds directly on the house wall or on the windowsill.
Pouring Solomon's Seal
The water requirements of the Polygonatum species are high. Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season. Short dry periods do not cause problems for adult plants as long as the rhizome is not completely dry. Young plants should be watered more frequently during rain-free periods so that the substrate is continuously moist. In spring you can mulch the soil. This promotes growth and at the same time ensures that the soil does not dry out.
Cutting Solomon’s seal correctly
Cutting measures are not recommended as they weaken the Solomon's seals. As deciduous plants, they draw their energy from the above-ground parts of the plant in autumn and store it in the rhizome. As soon as the leaves have completely withered, they can be cut off close to the ground. This measure is not absolutely necessary. The leaf mass protects the soil during the winter months and is broken down by the microorganisms in the substrate. This gives the plants fresh nutrients next spring, which they use for new growth.
Fertilize Solomon’s Seal properly
If you mulch or mix compost into the substrate in spring, no further fertilization is necessary during the year. As an alternative, complete fertilizer can be used, which is administered shortly before budding. The plants rely on the nutrients throughout the entire growing season. Over-fertilization can weaken the plant and cause disease or promote pest infestation.
hardy
Native Solomon's seals such as Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum multiflorum are hardy and can survive temperatures down to -32 degrees Celsius. This high frost resistance is related to the natural location, because in forests the ground is protected by fallen leaves, so that the top layer of soil only freezes through in particularly harsh winter months. The root tubers are located in a frost-free depth.
In snowy winter months, a blanket of snow protects the ground in open gardens from freezing. If there is no snow cover, you should cover the substrate with a thick layer of mulch. Fir branches, brushwood and leaves are suitable for this. Alternatively, you can spread thick straw mats in the bed.
How do I transplant correctly?
If the plants have formed dense clumps after several years and are overgrowing the site, stock containment is recommended. Transplanting does not make sense because the plants need time to regenerate and look unsightly after the procedure. You can plant fresh rhizome pieces in the new location. This rejuvenates the population and the old plants can be removed.
Diseases
There are no known diseases that cause problems for Solomon's seal. Drooping leaves or reduced growth can be attributed to incorrect location conditions or care measures. Control moisture and lime content in the soil.
Pests
Many pests spread on already weakened plants. You can prevent an infestation by spraying the plants with garlic or horseradish decoction in spring.
Solomon's Seal Sawfly
The wasp species lays its eggs on the leaves of Solomon's seal in May. A pest infestation is usually only noticed when the larvae have hatched and leave traces of feeding on the leaves. They eat the leaves bare from the top of the shoot to the base of the leaf and leave behind a skeleton. Infected shoot tips should be generously cut off and removed so that the larvae do not continue to eat through the leaf mass. You can regularly check the plant for pests and eggs and strip them from the leaves.
Snails
In spring, snails become annoying pests that feed on the freshly sprouting plants. They feel particularly comfortable in the moist and shady locations where Solomon's seals grow. The dwarf Solomon's seal is primarily destroyed by snails. Within a short period of time, the pests can eat entire crops bare. Loosen the soil regularly to make it more difficult for the snails to find their way.
Help against snails:
- Build snail fences
- alternatively lay out sharp stones as obstacles
- Coffee grounds keep pests away
- Setting up beer traps
- Spread snail nematodes with the irrigation water
Tip
The plants not only impress with their interesting flowers in spring. When winter is just around the corner, the lush green leaves turn a bright yellow. They form a harmonious contrast to the dark fruits and look particularly good under shady trees.
Varieties
- Weihenstephan: Blooms between May and June, large flowers. Growth height up to 100 centimeters.
- Striatum: Leaves green with white stripes. Particularly long flowers, creamy white. Grows up to 100 centimeters high.
- Variegatum: Spreading growth. Leaves green, edged with white. Growth height up to 40 centimeters.
- Whorled White Root: Not poisonous. Leaves narrow, arranged in whorls. Grows between 40 and 100 centimeters high.
- Narrow-flowered Solomon's seal: flowers elongated, flowering period May to June. Grows up to 80 centimeters high.
