Polygonatum pubescens aka Hairy Solomon's Seal

Polygonatum pubescens has two common names: hairy and downy Solomon's seal. It belongs to the asparagus family. This herb lives for years but has no woody stems. It grows wild in eastern Canada and the United States. It grows in shaded woods, thickets, and rich wooded slopes. In North Carolina, it grows more often in the mountains. It sheds its leaves each year. Rhizomes, or stems below ground, keep the plant alive.

Garden plants reach 1–2.5 feet [0.30–0.76 metres] tall. They spread 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres] wide. Green stems grow upright, then bend beneath the leaves. Each smooth stem has no branches and bends in slight zigzags. Leaves grow in turn on each side of the stem. They have smooth edges and clear veins that run side by side. Leaves range from narrow and lance-shaped to oval. Fine hairs line the veins on each leaf's underside. These hairs help tell it apart from similar Solomon's seals. The leaves turn yellow before they fall.

Flowers open from April to June, beneath the leaves. Short stalks hold one to three small, bell-shaped blooms. Each yellow-green flower has six lobes spread around its mouth. The leaves can hide the flowers from view. The blooms draw honeybees and bumblebees. Ruby-throated hummingbirds also visit them. Blue-black berries then form from August through October. The fruit adds a second season of interest after bloom. The curved stems suit woodland beds and shaded borders. The plant also fits native plant gardens with moist ground.

Give this plant part shade or deep shade. It prefers cool soil rich in humus that holds moisture. The soil must drain well, not stay soaked. It accepts clay, loam, and sand across a broad pH range. Heat and drought cause problems, so avoid hot, dry sites. Most growth takes place in cool spring weather. The rhizomes spread at a slow pace. They can form groups of plants where the site suits them. Grow more plants from seed or by splitting them. It needs little care and suits USDA zones 3–8. Aphids and thrips may cause trouble. Caterpillars may cause problems too.

Plants For A Future lists cooked shoots and roots as food. It also lists leaves as edible parts. The roots hold starch. Shoots serve as a substitute for asparagus. These records do not prove that every plant part is safe. That source reports no cases of toxicity for this species. It notes past use as medicine for bleeding and eye complaints. Those past uses do not prove these treatments work or are safe.