woodland wildflower

Smooth Solomon's seal

Polygonatum biflorum

Also known as Great Solomon's-seal, Sealwort

Native to much of the USA and southern Canada

Southern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, south to Florida and Texas, up the Connecticut River valley, southern Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota

Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
Bloom Apr–Jun Flowering time
Height
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and dry to moist soil. Its white flowers peak in May. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

When it blooms

The Smooth Solomon's seal's white flowers bloom April to June, peaking in May. This late-spring display draws bees and flower flies.

Smooth Solomon's seal blooms white, yellow, green & brownFoliage

Pollinators & wildlife

Bees Brown-belted Bumble Bee

also Two-spotted Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee, Bombus fervidus +17 more
Half-black Bumble Bee, Golden Sweat Bee, Lucorum-group Bumble Bees, Cherry Mining Bee, Ceratina dupla, Anthophora ursina, Cresson's Sweat Bee, Cyclops Blood Bee, Thistle Longhorn-Cuckoo, Osmia conjuncta, Broad-faced Masked Bee, white-winged sweat bee, Pseudopanurgus labrosiformis, Yellow-spotted Cuckoo Nomad Bee, Macropis steironematis, Brown-banded Carder-Bumble bee, Early Bumble Bee
Flower flies Yellow-shouldered Blacklet also Mount Hood Blacklet
Hummingbirds Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (38): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (4): MB, NB, ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Southern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, south to Florida and Texas, up the Connecticut River valley, southern Michigan, Minnesota, and North DakotaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 3–9 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Moist, rich, acid soils, though also occurs in calcareous areas. Prefers high humus. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, ClayThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Water use: MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.

Growth & form

Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: Apr–JunWhen it flowers.
Flower color: White, Yellow, Green, BrownThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: ripens May–OctThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: Poisonous if eatenWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.