Solomon’s seal steals the show in shady spots

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Arboretum’s “Life After Lawn” series – 45 can’t-fail, easy-care, low-water plants well adapted to our region and ideal for drought-tolerant landscapes.

Solomon’s seal

Polygonatum odoratum

Size: Usually 2 to 3 feet tall in our area

Bloom season: Clusters of white and green bells in spring and summer

Exposure: Shade

Pruning needs: Remove old stems in winter.

Water needs: Medium; once-established, irrigate deeply once a week.

Snapshot: This unusual and beautiful plant will brighten shady spots in your garden. Solomon’s seal is an extremely graceful herbaceous perennial with attractive arching stems holding nearly horizontal bright green oval leaves and delicate bell-shaped white and green flower clusters that dangle below. It’s an excellent choice for the shade garden and will spread slowly over time, so you can share some with gardening friends. It dies back in winter, but quickly grows back in early spring.

For more on “Life After Lawn,” click on arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Solomon’s seal steals the show in shady spots."