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Polygonatum biflorum

American Solomon's-seal · Honey-flowered Solomon's Seal · King Solomon's Seal · Smooth Solomon's Seal

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Polygonatum

Pairs of narrow tubular flowers, white with green tips, hanging on short stalks beneath an arching leafy stem.
FlowerKristine PaulusCC BY 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-4 ft0.6-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in May-June.

7 days from start to sowing.

90% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196Public domain
Show the original text
Polygonatum (Iiliaceae). The three species germ. hypogeally at 70 and form only a corm and branching root system at 70. When development of this is complete, the seedlings were shifted to 40. It was found that 3 m at 40 was insufficient to destroy growth inhibitors in the epicotyl. A 6 m period at 40 and a shift to 70 initiated stem and leaf formation in P. biflorum seeds collected in October, WC 7 d, and placed outdoors germ. 90% in May-June. None germ. in 70L, 70D, or 40-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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