Polygonatum humile

Dwarf Solomon's seal

Looking back at what I've written so far, it seems I think a lot of plants are charming, cute, etc. I guess that's one of the hazards in selling plants that you personally like! But what else can you call a Japanese woodland wildflower that's named 'Himeizui', or 'Princess of Far Winding Roads' (meaning calm places) besides charming?

Native to Hokkaido, this understory plant doesn't look anything like our native Solomon's seals. Reaching only 6" in height, it spreads via thick white rhizomes just below the soil's surface to form small colonies of dark green, conspicuously-veined leaves that jut out at 90° angles to the stalks.

The flowers are where the true similarity to Solomon's seal comes in. They hang down like little white bells all along the main stem, showing up nicely against the dark green leaves.

This is a great naturalizing plant for shady, moist sites. I hope it brings you as much joy as it has brought me, and, if the Japanese are right, a little bit of calm.

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(c) 2007 Christopher P. Lindsey