Solomon’s seal is very much at home at the Arboretum’s Terassi (Terrace) as it is native in coastal herb-rich forests from the eastern border up to Pori on the West coast.
The stems of Solomon’s seal arch gracefully to some 50 cms and its leaves rise above the arc like bird’s wings. Small, greeny white tubular flowers hang in clusters of two to five from the leaf axils. The large berries that ripen in the autumn are bluish black and poisonous. The habit and foliage of Solomon’s seal resemble False Solomon’s Seal (Treacleberry, Smilacina racemosa): the stand widens as the rhizomes grow wider and new shoots rise from the terminal buds. Solomon’s seal is most elegant as a large stand.
Solomon’s seal has been hybridized with the more common angular (scented) Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum) and the resulting garden Solomon’s seal (P. x hybridum) is grown in the shady parts of the garden. As many other hybrids, the garden Solomon’s seal becomes more vigorous than either of its parents.