Solomon's seal

About Solomon's seal

Solomon's seal sends up graceful arching stems with paired leaves and dangling, bell-shaped, greenish-white flowers in spring, followed by blue-black berries in fall (NC State). The native smooth Solomon's seal grows in moist woods across eastern North America and turns gold in fall.

Smooth Solomon's seal is hardy in zones 3-9 (NC State).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant rhizome divisions in spring or fall while dormant (NC State). It does best with a bit of sun. Seed is slow: sow fresh in September or give it a cold, moist period.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter; it takes occasional dry or wet spells (NC State).

Moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter (NC State).

Feeding

Keep new plantings moist the first season (NC State).

Harvest

Blooms in spring; berries ripen September-October (NC State).

Pests to watch for

Slugs, Brown garden snail

In the kitchen

Safety: The berries are poisonous (NC State: low severity; vomiting and diarrhea). Don't eat any part without expert identification.

Pets: Not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. NC State lists the berries as poisonous to people, so it's wise to keep pets from eating them.