Polygonatum sibiricum DJHC 600

Whorled Solomon’s Seal Asparagaceae

A Solomon’s seal with ambitions far beyond the usual woodland border! This remarkable form of Polygonatum sibiricum produces long, lax stems clothed with narrow leaves, capable of scrambling through neighbouring vegetation and, given the right conditions, reaching extraordinary proportions. The small pale greenish-beige flowers, heavily marked with maroon, are borne along the stems in summer, followed by attractive red to dark fruits. 

DJHC 600 was collected by American plantsman Dan Hinkley in Wolong, Sichuan, China, at approximately 8500ft (c. 2590m). The original plant was remarkable, scrambling to around 3.9m (13ft) through the lower branches of a larch, with narrow leaves and blue fruits. Seed from this collection was subsequently raised and distributed through horticulture; the plants in cultivation are therefore derived from a wild collection rather than being a named cultivar. 

In cultivation it benefits from moist, fertile woodland soil and something to scramble through, with ample summer moisture and time allowing it to reach its full potential. The collection is sufficiently vigorous to be grown as a rather unusual woodland climber, although its ultimate size in cultivation is likely to be considerably less than that of the original plant. 

• Height: 1.8–3m+, potentially considerably more
• Spread: 1–2m
• Flowering: June–July
• Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
• Position: Partial shade to shade
• Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich, well drained
• Collection: Dan Hinkley
• Collection number: DJHC 600
• Provenance: Wolong, Sichuan, China
• Altitude: c. 2590m (8500ft)
• Introduction: Raised from seed collected by Dan Hinkley and subsequently distributed in specialist horticulture
• Nomenclature: Polygonatum sibiricum DJHC 600; often treated as P. aff. sibiricum DJHC 600 in horticulture.