Printed at http://www.quackingrassnursery.com/index.cfm/
Polygonatum prattii
Dwarf Chinese Solomon Seal
Plant Type:
SHADE PERENNIALSPolygonatum prattii - Now this is something else! This dwarf Chinese Solomon Seal sports violet-purple spring flowers, narrow bells from pedicels emerging from leaf axils. The outer flower color is light purple but the flares at the tips of the flowers are like a dark purple starfish. Top that with vanilla fragrance. There's love in the air! Small, green blades are set alternately on stems. Polygonatum prattii is a small, elegant woodland gem - bear that in mind when placing it. The Chinese Solomon Seal will be perfect placed front of the border in the woodland garden or beautifully used in the shady rockery. Average to moist woodland soil in open shade, dappled conditions but will certainly tolerate some early morning / very late day sun. Choice. Established pot grown perennial from rhizome 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.