Smooth Solomon’s Seal Blooms in Pairs

A favorite woodlands plant that we have growing on our mountain ridge is called Smooth Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum biflorum. It grows only in wooded areas and it blooms in the middle of Spring, followed by large blue berries in Autumn.

Solomon’s Seal has one long arching stem that supports its linear and pointed leaves. Each leaf grasps the main stem at the base and graduates into a fine point at the end. Linear leaf veins that extend the length of the leaves show this plant to be of the monocot lineage.

Smooth Solomon's Seal blooming in a Pennsylvanian forest.
Smooth Solomon's Seal blooming in a Pennsylvanian forest. Photo taken 11 May 2012.

Flowers of Solomon’s Seal usually dangle in pairs, but sometimes there is only one bloom at a leaf node or leaf axil. The cream-colored, bell-shaped flowers dangle from the main stem and sway with the breezes of Spring.

(Click any photo to see a larger image.)

Flowers of Smooth Solomon's Seal dangle in pairs from leaf axils.
Flowers of Smooth Solomon's Seal dangle in pairs from leaf axils. Photo taken 11 May 2012.

In the photo above note how the linear leaves sheath or grasp the main stem.

If you’re not sure what species of Solomon’s Seal you’re looking at, check out previous posts on wildeherb.com for a little help on the different types of Solomon’s Seal, late spring blooming Solomon’s Seal, and the blue berries of Solomon’s Seal.

1 thought on “Smooth Solomon’s Seal Blooms in Pairs”

  1. Oh at first I was thinking those were flowres you were actually seeing right now! I was going to be SO jealous! But in my dreams yeah, I’m seeing them too. Can’t wait to have the windows open with a nice warm breeze coming in. Nice!

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