Solomon's Seal and his relatives with lots of variety for shady places, even quite dry for some of them. Addictive if you like subtle green and brown plants with a bit of pink!
As you will see from a quick browse many of the Polygonatums look very different to the common cottage garden plant. This doesn't make them difficult to grow or needing different conditions, some of the narrow leafed species (particularly Polygonatum verticillatum) are actually easier to grow! You may also find that the narrow leafed forms are much less susceptible to the dreaded grey caterpillars of Solomon's Seal Sawfly.
The ideal conditions for moist forms are a good, humousy, soil that doesn't dry out in shade. Having said that the tougher species will grow in a much wider range of condidtions and will take summer drought in their stride as they die down by midsummer to re-emerge the following spring.
A rarely seen species with purple flushed narrow leaves on reddish speckled stems with pretty little rich pink flowers in early summer. Late to emerge in spring so don't panic that it's gone! Good, leafy soil in shade, not too dry. 45cm.
An excellent, vigorous and floriferous selection collected in Russia in 1996 by the late Michael Wickenden. Grey green leaves and large creamy flowers in April/May. 90cm. Good soil in shade.
A distinct form of the species with ivory flowers tipped green in clusters at the axils of long narrow leaves. Good yellow autumn foliage sets off the red berries very well. 1.5m. Good soil in shade.
Whorls of narrow leaves on slender stems to about 60cm. Smallish green bell-like flowers in late spring. The flowers and stems are often spotted reddish purple and the foliage has a purple flush when young. Late to emerge. Good, woodland soil in shade.
