Thoughtfully Blended Hearts: Apr 21, 2009

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Solomon’s Seal

Spring is “busting out all over”…come walk with me…around the yard…careful don’t step on Zoe…

Solomon’s Seal is an elegant plant that is Native to North America. The slender, arching stems have alternating lance-shaped leaves that are either green or tipped with white. The small, tubular white flowers dangle underneath the leaves. More mature plants tend to have more flowers and are a bit more showy. But it’s the plant form that makes Solomon’s Seal such an interesting plant. They are easy growers, but somewhat slow to become established. Solomon’s Seal is deer resistant.

The name "Solomon’s Seal" is taken from the shape of the scar on the rhizome where the stem attaches. In some species this scar takes the shape of two overlapped triangles, which is the symbol King Solomon, ruler of Israel from 961 to 931 BC, took to symbolize the union of body and soul. The plants have been used for a number of applications in herbal medicine.

Variegated Solomon’s Seal is easily grown in reasonably fertile soil in the shade garden. Plants benefit from the presence of some organic matter in the soil.
It also does well on the north side of a house if no shade trees are available. While quite tolerant of drought once established, the plants should be watered their first year after planting to ensure good establishment. It makes an excellent companion plant with Hosta and other shade perennials. Be patient with this beauty because it may take several years for the colony to form sufficient size to show the beauty the plant has to provide.