How to Grow Solomon's Seal From Seed

Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) is a perennial wildflower that tolerates shade and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3a to 9b. Small, pale green to white flowers appear on the plant in the spring and are followed by blue berries. The plant is most frequently grown for its attractive foliage since the flowers and berries are small and, although attractive, not considered to be showy. Solomon’s seal is usually propagated by rhizome division because it can be difficult to do so by seed. Propagation by seed is possible, however, if you are patient and provide the two cold stratification cycles the seed requires.

Things You'll Need

Shallow plastic tray
Sawdust, vermiculite or perlite

Plastic wrap
Refrigerator

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a shallow tray or flat with a moist medium such as sawdust, peat moss, vermiculite or perlite. Make sure the medium is damp, but not so wet that you can squeeze water out of it.
- 2
  Place the Solomon’s seal seeds in the stratification medium, pushing them about a quarter of an inch into the material. This should be done as soon as the seeds are collected; do not let them dry out.
- 3
  Cover the seed-filled tray with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for two to three months. Check the tray periodically, and add water as needed to keep the sawdust or vermiculite moist.
- 4
  Remove the tray from the refrigerator, and place it in a warm location where the temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 5
  Wait for the seeds to germinate, watering them as needed to prevent drying. If the seeds do not germinate during the summer, place them back in the refrigerator and repeat the process. Solomon’s seal seeds can take two years to germinate, so don’t be discouraged if they don’t sprout right away.
- 6
  Prepare your seedlings for outdoor planting when they have germinated by placing the tray outside for a few hours on warm spring afternoons when any danger of frost has passed. Place the young plants where they will be exposed to increasing amounts of sunlight and outdoor temperatures.
- 7
  Plant the young Solomon’s seal seedlings later in the spring after you have hardened them off, selecting a planting site in full sun or part shade. Loamy, nutrient rich soil is a must for these plants, so amend your soil with compost or humus if you know it to be nutrient poor. Plant the seedlings 2 to 3 inches deep, spacing multiple plantings 12 to 15 inches apart.
- 8
  Mulch the newly planted seedlings lightly and water them lightly immediately after planting.

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