Solomon's-seal

Solomon's-seal - Polygonatum multiflorum

Description

This plant has arching stems with pairs of large, dark green, slightly pleated leaves that have waxy-blue undersides. It has small clusters of green-tipped, white flowers that hang like little bells. Stems are terete (round in cross-section) which distinguishes this from the hybrid that is commonly grown in gardens and is occasionally established in a naturalised setting from a garden throw-out

Similar Species

The hybrid Polygonatum x hybridum is a frequent garden escape

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Check the stems - terete or ridged? 

Recording advice

Photographs of the plant in habitats and details of stems

Habitat

Usually found in slightly shaded habitats, sometimes in woodland

When to see it

Flowering May and June.

Life History

Perennial.

VC55 Status

Probably rare as a native, confined to a few woodlands (e.g. it is possibly native in White Horse Wood, Cloud Wood).  Other records may be due to confusion with the hybrid. 

It was on the 2011 VC55 Rare Plant Register (Jeeves, 2011) but is not on the current RPR (Hall & Woodward, 2022); it is listed as 'data deficient' because it is not clear whether records are of the hybrid plants, originating from introduced/escaped plants, or of the native species.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

Solomons-seal Sawfly

The adult sawfly is 8-9 mm long and all black. Larvae are off-white in colour and fleshy-looking.