Polygonatum inflatum

Polygonatum inflatum is a perennial: it lives for several years. It belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It grows from rhizomes and stands about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Kew gives its native range as Primorye to Korea and Japan. Plants For A Future also lists northeastern China. This includes Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. It grows in forests and at their edges. Records place it near sea level. They also reach 3,281 feet [1,000 metres]. In southern Japan, it grows in mountains too.

Flowers bloom from May to July. Each has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers. The plant is self-fertile: it can set seed with its own pollen. Seeds ripen from August to September. The supplied species records say little about leaf or flower shape. They give no mature spread. The RHS describes the genus as a whole. It gives no detailed account of this species' form.

Plants For A Future lists sand, loam and clay as suitable soils. The soil should stay moist but drain well. The listed pH range goes from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Its species summary allows full shade or part shade. Its garden notes favour shade broken by light and shady edges. They favour these sites over deep shade. These records suggest a place in a shaded woodland garden. The source is unsure how well it withstands British cold. It suggests it may grow outdoors in milder areas. This rests on its native range, not a firm hardiness rating.

Plants For A Future lists leaves, roots and shoots as edible. It describes cooking young shoots to use in place of asparagus. It also describes cooked roots as a starchy food. It gives no steps for preparing the leaves. It records uses of the roots as medicine. These include uses to soothe and to aid sleep. Such reports do not prove these benefits. It reports no known toxicity for this species. This lack of reports does not mean every part is safe.

The notes on raising plants call for fresh seed in early autumn. Sow it in a shaded spot in a cold greenhouse. Sow stored seed early in the year. Seeds may take time to sprout. Young plants need several years to gain size. Keep them under greenhouse cover through their first winter. You can also divide plants in March or October. The source lists no weed potential for this species.