Solomon's Seal is Polygonatum

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Solomon's Seal emerging Mar 2016
Variegated Solomon's Seal is emerging in our back woodland garden this week. A few leaves have unfurled but mostly they look like the photo on the right.

 Cold hardy in zones 3 through 8, gardeners in most of the US can grow them successfully.

 Our first little clump came from a plant sale at the Tulsa Perennial Society's annual event. 

 This year's mild weather has caused the size of the clump to double! I'm over the moon thrilled, of course.

 Fine Gardening Magazine comments that they are "well suited to woodlands, naturalized areas, shady borders, and rock gardens". Ours are thriving under large deciduous trees where the hammocks hang in the summertime.

 We grow it for its beauty but foragers and herbalists grow it for it's health benefits.
Our Solomon's Seal April 2015


 Cortesia Herbal Products has a couple of interesting photos along with plant lore.
"Solomon's Seal (polygonatum biflorum, multiflorum, odoratum, etc.) is a medicinal herb that has diverse health restorative properties. It can be used as a herbal tincture, salve, tea or supplement. As an alternative remedy, it may offer relief, healing or mending to sports injuries and other conditions related to tendons, joints, ligaments, bones, bruises, connecting tissues, cartilage, etc. It also soothes and repairs gastrointestinal inflammation and injuries. It is effective for feminine issues, such as menstrual cramps, PMS, bleeding, and the like. Additionally, it is known to lower blood pressure and relieve dry coughs.
Solomon's Seal has a rich history that goes back many thousands of years. Herbalists and healers, both in Europe and North America and the Far East, have written about its diverse effects on numerous conditions. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service) identified Solomon's Seal as a Culturally Significant Plant, noting its medicinal and restorative value among North American Tribal (Original Nation) peoples. It is our understanding that the National Institutes of Health is presently researching the benefits of Solomon's Seal for heart health."

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