Great Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum commutatum)
pol-ig-on-AY-tum commutatum

Deciduous Perennial in the Asparagaceae Family

Polygonatum commutatum, commonly called Great Solomon's Seal, is a robust native woodland perennial of eastern and central North America, including Illinois, where it occurs alongside the smaller Polygonatum biflorum. Many modern botanical sources now treat it as Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum rather than a fully separate species, but it remains horticulturally distinct: thicker, taller arching stems carry clasping leaves and pairs of pendulous greenish-white flowers in spring, followed by blue-black berries. At 3 to 6 feet tall, it is noticeably larger than the species it's grouped with.

Pros

  • Robust native habit, taller than common Solomon's Seal
  • Genuine Illinois native
  • Low-maintenance once established
  • Attracts native bees and hummingbirds

Cons

  • Needs a few seasons to form a full colony
  • Berries mildly toxic if eaten
  • Dies back completely in fall
Why Like

A genuine Illinois native, Great Solomon's Seal grows in moist to slightly dry woodlands statewide and forms sizeable colonies over time. Its flowers draw bumblebees, Anthophora bees, and Lasioglossum bees, and hummingbirds visit for nectar. The berries feed woodland birds, while white-tailed deer browse the foliage.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 6 feet tall. 24 - 48 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, For a Shady Spot, Full Shade, Low Maintenance, Medium, Naturalizing, Partial Shade, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Shade Tolerant, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Greenish-White

Photos of This with...

Virginia Bluebells
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2024 : 05/01 - 05/11
2023 : 08/20 - 08/27


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!