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Polygonatum speciosa 'New Yorker'

Solomon's Seal

Plant Type:

SHADE PERENNIALS

Polygonatum sp. 'New Yorker' (ex: Jon Lehrer) – ​A dense growing solidly green form sporting extra-large ovate leaflets set upon zig zag stems. John O'Brien of O'Brien Nurserymen in Granby, Connecticut acquired this Solomon Seal from someone who purportedly singled it out at the New York Botanical Garden from whence the name, New Yorker, comes. This looks a lot like a Polygonatum odoratum selection to my eye – maybe yes, maybe no - but on steroids. It's big. And 'New Yorker' is beautiful... it's a Polygonatum – of course it's beautiful... and architectural, too! Potted rhizome that has grown out for 1 year.


Height:

30-40 in

Colors:

White

Zone:

(4b?)5 to 8
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Polygonatum speciosa 'New Yorker'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / into Autumn

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant
  • Honey Bees & Native Bees

Light

  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Dappled Shade
  • Shade

Attributes

  • Woodland
  • Border
  • Wildlife Garden
  • Drought Tolerant
  • Massing
  • Natural Garden

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Fertile
  • Humus Laden
  • Organic
  • Woodland
  • Acid
  • Draining

Propagated By

  • Division

Genus Overview: Polygonatum

Common Name: Solomon's Seal

These are the architectural Solomon Seals, all strong contrasting counterpoint to other denizens in the woodland/shade garden. Solomon Seals form spectacular colonies of upright arching stems from rhizomes just under the surface soil and leaf duff. Allan Armitage writes in his 2nd edition of Herbaceous Perennial Plants, “The common name Solomon’s Seal may have been derived from the circular sunken scars that remain on the rootstock after the leaf stalks die and fall off; the scar somewhat resembles a seal impressed on wax on official documents or letters in former times.” The simple leaves are obovate to elliptic turning yellow to golden brown in autumn before dropping. All prefer open shade to morning sun. When flowers are pollinated dangling blue fruits may develop on short paired pedicels along stems from leaf axils. All of the following offerings are by pot grown established division.