Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Japanese Solomon's Seal

Description:

Attractive variegated leaves is what sets this variety apart; elegant nodding silky white blooms in late spring above mounded foliage is attractive all season long makes this a great choice for the shaded area

Ornamental Features

Variegated Solomon's Seal features dainty lightly-scented nodding white bell-shaped flowers along the stems in late spring. Its attractive pointy pinnately compound leaves are green in colour with showy creamy white variegation. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous gold in the fall. It produces deep purple berries in mid summer.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Solomon's Seal is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Variegated Solomon's Seal is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Variegated Solomon's Seal will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 30 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.