Solomon's Seal

I am absolutely fascinated by this plant. I don't know what it is about it, its name, its relative scarcity, the unusual way the blossoms are aligned along the stems, unlike any flower I've ever seen.

I waited a long time to get it, hesitating over mail-in orders and proper planting times, not knowing how it behaves in larger plantings, daydreaming about what it would look like in my garden.

I was checking out the shade perennials at the local plant nursery and there it was, with the trademark flowers that cast no doubt about its identity, just chillin' between the ferns and the hostas.

Solomon's Seal is a full shade plant and a very reliable one at that. It tolerates deep shade as long as it has enough water and will spread if the conditions are favorable. In harmony with its unusual flowering pattern, it doesn't spread like the other shade plants, forming a clump that grows in time and needs dividing. Its stems stand alone, like wheat stalks, forming a grid over the covered area.

It is not supposed to be high maintenance, but then again most shade plants aren't. They are used to make do with less resources than their pampered sun loving counterparts. This graceful flower is an American native, at home in woodland settings and hardy to zones 3 through 9.

I can't believe it actually grows in my garden. It looks very elegant with its singular arching stems festooned with white flowers. I hope it likes its location and thrives.