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Smilacina racemosa
false Solomon‘s seal
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Image © Richie Steffen/Great Plant Picks |
Printer-friendly Fact Sheet
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| Outstanding Qualities |
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A native of the Pacific Northwest, this clump-forming perennial looks great in the garden. Smilacina racemosa has a graceful architectural appearance: Its strong, slightly arching stems have deep green alternating leaves with strong parallel veins running up to the tip. Plume-like clusters of small, white flowers—make sure to enjoy their unexpected rose fragrance—crown this perennial in mid-spring. By late summer appear showy, round red berries that are sometimes spotted with purple. False Solomon’s seal is drought tolerant and grows well in dry, shady locations. It is a natural for the woodland garden and great in combination with rhododendrons, sword fern, Cascade Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa), hostas and lily-of-the-valley shrubs (Pieris). |
| Culture |
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False Solomon’s seal grows best in full to part shade in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich, moist soil. It tolerates dry sites once established. If it’s happy you may get a few seedlings as a bonus! |
| Growing Habit |
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This clump-forming perennial grows to 36 inches tall by 24 inches wide. Cut plants to the ground in the fall. |
| Hardiness |
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USDA zones 4 to 9 |
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© 2009 Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden