Pawpaw Holler Home

Smooth Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)

Great Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum canaliculatum –or- Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum)

Solomon’s Seal is a common woodland wildflower found in full to part shade throughout most of North America, from Saskatchewan west to Quebec, south through Florida to New Mexico. It is called Solomon’s Seal because when the leafstalk falls off, a scar is left on the root and it resembles the official seal of King Solomon.

This graceful plant has an unbranched, arching stem with opposite leaves. The 1/2 inch long, pale-green, bell-shaped flowers appear from May-June and hang down from the leaf axils.

Smooth Solomon’s Seal grows to a height of 2-3 feet, with no more than two flowers per cluster, and the tip of the stem curves down -almost to the ground.

Great Solomon’s Seal may grow to a height of 7 feet and has 2 or more flowers per cluster.

The Great Solomon’s Seals here in the Pawpaw Holler grow to a height of 4-5 feet and the plant is a paler green than the Smooth Solomon’s Seal.

After flowering, green berries appear which turn dark blue-black in late summer and fall.

Caution: The berries of Solomon’s Seal are poisonous!

The roots of Solomon’s Seal are starchy and were used for food by the American Indians and colonists.

Solomon’s Seal may be seen along many trails in the  The Great Smoky Mountains including:

• Ace Gap (Cades Cove/Rich Mountain Rd. area)
• Cove Hardwood Self-Guided Nature Trail (Chimneys Picnic Area)
• Deep Creek (north of Bryson City. NC)
• Kanati Fork (north of Oconaluftee Visitor Center,NC)

For Great Smoky Mountains trail and wildflower information:

• Wildflower Walks in the Smokies
• Where To Look For Spring Wildflowers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Directory of Trails by Location Within Park

Learn More About Solomon’s Seal

USDA Plants Profile: Polygonatum biflorum smooth Solomon’s seal

Native Plant Database: Polygonatum biflorum -Smooth Solomon’s seal, Great Solomon’s-seal

Plants For A Future :

• Polygonatum biflorum -Small Solomon’s Seal
• Polygonatum commutatum – King Solomon’s Seal

Picture of Solomon’s Seal root

Where To Buy Solomon’s Seal

Shadeflowers.com

Sunlight Gardens

Prairie Nursery –will ship seeds internationally with minimum order of $250

Crocus –UK (different variety)

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: Great Smoky Mountains, nature, photos, summer, wildflowers

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am and is filed under East TN. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.