Polygonatum pubescens (Willdenow) Pursh. Common name: Downy Solomon’s-seal, Hairy Solomon’s-seal. Phenology: Late Apr-Jun; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Moist forests, especially cove forests, but also in montane oak forests. Distribution: S. QC west to s. MB, south to nw. SC (S. Tessel, pers.comm., 2023), n. GA, ne. AL, IN, ne. IA, and MN.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA26, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Judd (2003), Ownbey (1944); = Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott — S, misapplied. Basionym: Convallaria pubescens Willd. 1803
Links to other floras: = Polygonatum pubescens - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Polygonatum pubescens, Mount Enotah, Brasstown Bald Wilderness, Chattahoochee National Forest, Towns County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, arching perennial of moist forests, especially cove forests, but also in montane oak forests.
Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth; there are sheathing, papery bracts on the lower, leafless part of stem.
Leaves: Leaves narrowly elliptic to oval, short-petiolate, 1 1/2-5 in. long, whitish and hairless above, with 3-9 finely hairy veins beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers dangling below leaf from slender stalks originating in leaf axils (1-2 per axil); yellow-green; 3/8-1/2 in. long; tubular, with 6 short, pointed, spreading tepal lobes.
Fruits: Fruit a round, blue-black berry.
Comments:
Height: 1-2.5 ft.
plant sale text: What a delightfully understated plant! Simple green elliptic leaves emerge in spring along bright green gently arching zig-zag stems. Flowers are to be found in mid- to late spring below the leaves; narrow pale greenish white bells, flared at their rims. The blue-black rounded fruits follow on in summer. This is an open woodland plant, liking some sun and some shade, loamy soil with decaying organic material when available. The knotty half-inch thick rhizomes will spread out a bit in time and form a tidy colony of arches where happy.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, arching perennial of moist forests, especially cove forests, but also in montane oak forests.
stems: Stems unbranched, smooth; there are sheathing, papery bracts on the lower, leafless part of stem.
leaves: Leaves narrowly elliptic to oval, short-petiolate, 1 1/2-5 in. long, whitish and hairless above, with 3-9 finely hairy veins beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers dangling below leaf from slender stalks originating in leaf axils (1-2 per axil); yellow-green; 3/8-1/2 in. long; tubular, with 6 short, pointed, spreading tepal lobes.
fruits: Fruit a round, blue-black berry.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: northeastern North America
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