Smilacinas Solve Garden Challenges
Dry shade no problem for this graceful native.
False Solomon's Seals are low-maintenance hardy perennials with more than one season of interest.
The name “False” in the False Solomon’s Seals suggests that they are somehow inferior to the “True” Solomon’s Seals, members of the genus Polygonatum, but nothing could be farther from the truth! From many vantage points, the “False” Solomon’s Seals have the upper hand when it comes to showiness in flower and fruit. False Solomon’s Seals belong to a different genus, Smilacina. They share the arching form typical of the True Solomon‘s Seals, but the “False” ones have a different flower arrangement, at the ends of the stems beyond the leaves rather than dangling underneath.
Smilacina racemosa - False Solomon’s Seal
False Solomon’s Seal is also known as False Spikenard, Treacleberry, Solomon’s Feather, Solomon’s Plume, and Solomon’s Zigzag. This is a very widespread plant, growing in the wild from Nova Scotia west to British Columbia, and south to Georgia, extending west at least to Arizona. Not surprisingly for a plant with such wide distribution, it is pretty undemanding in the garden - flexible in its attitudes about soil types, moisture, and even sun and shade! This is one of the few plants that will perform well even in dry shade under shallow rooted trees, or in woods that have rock outcrops very close to the surface. The May-June flowers resemble a creamy white Astilbe, with similar plumy pointed cluster at the ends of the stem - but leaning sideways. Individually the blossoms may be small and not too spectacular but there are plenty of them on each plant. Shining, bright green ribbed leaves are attractive in their own right. In fall, the flowers will have produced very attractive red fruit with tiny, darker red speckles, and eventually the leaves turn golden before dropping in late fall.
Starry False Solomon’s Seal - Smilacina stellata
Although this species is a little less common than Smilacina racemosa, its range is similarly extensive.
Hardy to zone 3, this species prefers moist sites and is not quite as tolerant of drought. In the wild it most often grows in sweet, sandy but moist sites. Its white flowers look like stars nestled in the topmost pair of leaves. While there are relatively few flowers per plant, their petals are far showier than on the S. racemosa. Actually the showy parts of the flower include both petals and sepals, nearly identical to each other - they are called tepals. This is a great companion for many other woodland natives.
Slim Solomon - Smilacina sessilifolia
Found in the Pacific northwest, this is a plant that likes a moist climate and is somewhat more limited in where in the country it will grow. Its flowers are fewer than the two previous species.
Three Leaved Solomon’s Seal - Smilacina trifolia
This species is partial to bogs, especially in the colder parts of North America and Siberia. The flower clusters extend out a distance from the leaves and it is very graceful, but it is not very suitable for any garden except a bog garden.
Once taken for granted since they grow in the woods, Smilacinas are becoming more appreciated for the great plants they are! For some gardeners, a big selling point for Smilacina is that it is deer resistant.
Unfortunately, like many members of the lily family, these plants can be eaten by the voracious and obnoxious lily beetle that has shorn so many southern New England gardens of its lilies. Beetles are more likely to be a problem if members of the genus Lilium are there to entice the beetles in, but once they have eaten and laid eggs on their preferred plants they go on to Smilacina and others.
