Polygonatum humile (Dwarf Solomon’s seal)

Polygonatum humile Fisch. ex Maxim.

Dwarf Solomon’s seal

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Asparagaceae	Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
Genus	Polygonatum	Greek for “with many knees,” referring to the swollen joints of stems
Species	humile

About plant names...

Dwarf Solomon’s seal is native to eastern Europe and western Asia. In North America, it is found only in gardens.

Identification: Plants are less than 12" (30 cm) in height, comfortable in the full or partial shade under trees. White, bell-shaped flowers occur along the stem. Elliptical green leaves are about 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long. Berries are shiny, black, about ⅛" (3.2 mm).

4/28/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 26 × 18" (65 × 45 cm)

5/29/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts

Some similar species:

	*Polygonatum biflorum*	*Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum ‘Variegatum’*	You are here Polygonatum humile
Common Name	smooth Solomon’s-seal	variegated Solomon’s Seal	dwarf Solomon’s seal
Plant	Up to 24" (60 cm) long.	Reaches 8-20" (20-50 cm).	Up to 12" (30 cm) in height.
Flowers	Greenish-white, about ½" (1.3 cm) long by ⅛" (3.2 mm) around, bell-shaped, hanging in groups of 1-5.	White or greenish-white, like long bells, about ½" (1.3 cm) long, hanging downward, often in pairs. Whiter than P. biflorum..	White, bell-shaped, about ¼" (8.3 mm) long, hanging singly from stem.
Leaves	Up to 7" (18 cm) by 2½" (7 cm), oval, with pointed ends and parallel veins, yellow-green.	Oval, green fringed with white, 3-9" (7.6-22 cm) long.	Elliptical, green, 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long.
Fruit	¼" (6.3 mm) blue berries.	Dark blue to black, less than ¼" (6.3 mm) around.	Shiny black, about ⅛" (3.2 mm) around.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-9	USDA Zones: 4-8	USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Woods, prairies, in sandy, loamy soil	Wooded areas, dappled shade, deep shade	Full to partial shade in temperate climates
Type	Wild	Cultivar	Wild