Solomon's Seal is a rhizomatous, erect or arching herbaceous perennial in the Asparagaceae (Asparagus) family. It does well in hardy zones 3-9. that reaches an average height of 6.5' tall. This plant blooms in late spring on unbranched stems. It is propagated by division of rhizomes. It is commonly planted in woodland gardens and shady, naturalized areas or flower gardens. This plant prefers shade and cool, organically rich, moist soil. It is tolerant of deep shade. It has no serious pest or disease problems. Quick ID Hints: Alternate leaves on unbranched arching stems Tubular, nodding, yellow-green flowers in axils Leaves are two-ranked, parallel-veined Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Good Cut
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are usually alternate, upright, parallel-veined, distichate, simple, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, and entire. Leaves are 4" long and are attractive in flower arrangements. Leaves are sessile to short petiole.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Bell; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are yellowish-green to white, tubular campanulate, axillary, and are on 1 to 3 peduncles, nodding, on underside of leafy stem. These fragrant flowers smell lily-like and bloom from late spring to early summer May-June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Pendulous, black-blue 1/4" berries dangle from the leaf axils in the fall.
Stem detail
Stems are unbranched, and erect to arching.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Temp. Northern Hemisphere
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Nuts; Shoots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salad,