Polygonatum curvistylum

Whorled Solomon’s Seal Asparagaceae

A distinctive and elegant Solomon’s seal forming a clump of slender, erect dark purple stems, clothed with narrow, linear-lanceolate leaves in whorls of three to six. The leaves are held ascending before flowering, becoming somewhat pendulous afterwards. Small, pendent, pale purple to pink, bell-shaped flowers are produced singly or in pairs from the leaf axils, followed by red berries. A particularly refined species, excellent for a cool woodland planting. 

Native from the eastern Himalaya and Nepal eastwards into western Sichuan and north-western Yunnan, China, although the precise status of the Nepalese records has been questioned by some recent botanical work. It is a temperate, rhizomatous species associated with cool, moist mountain habitats. 

Best grown in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial or full shade, where the slender stems can be appreciated amongst ferns and other woodland perennials. It is a particularly useful Polygonatum for a naturalistic woodland setting and is fully hardy in the UK. 

• Height: 50–70cm
• Spread: 30–45cm
• Flowering: May–July
• Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
• Position: Partial shade to full shade
• Soil: Humus-rich, moist but well draine