Practical
Plants

Polygonatum commutatum

King Solomon's Seal

a perennial member of the Polygonatum genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
2 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit and seed are thought to be poisonous[14].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked. They can be used as an asparagus substitute. Root - cooked[6][2]. A parsnip-like flavour[5]. Rich in starch, it can be dried and ground into a powder then used as a thickener in soups etc or can be added to flour when making cakes, bread or whatever[12][13]. The root should be boiled and sun-dried nine times, it is then delicious[3] (if there is anything left![K])

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the root has been used as a herbal steam inhalant as a treatment for headaches[9].

Product or use
Analgesic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root has been burnt in the house for its pleasant fragrance[9].

Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Rhode Island to Ontario and Manitoba, south to Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona.
Habitat
Moist woodland and copses, often by streams[11][8]. Plants are rarely found in dry soils[8].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early autumn in a shady part of a cold greenhouse[4]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Germination can be slow, they may not come true to type[4] and it takes a few years for them to reach a good size. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in March or October. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a fertile humus rich moisture retentive well-drained soil in cool shade or semi-shade[4]. Plants are intolerant of heat and drought but tolerate most other conditions[4]. Grows well in woodlands and copses[1][10]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[7]. The young shoots are very attractive to slugs[K]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[4]. According to one report this species is no more than a synonym for P. biflorum[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  3. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  6. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  7. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  8. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  11. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  14. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

Edit this page