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Polygonatum sibiricum 'Passion Purple'
Chinese Solomon's Seal
Plant Type:
SHADE PERENNIALSPolygonatum sibiricum ‘Passion Purple’ – This unusual form of Chinese Solomon's Seal is a very choice and very rare plant with all parts arising deep red-purple in spring with foliage maturing green with an infusion of bronze-purple. Flowers are white with green tips. Blue fruits if and when they develop are large and showy. This is a dramatic grower that will make a striking centerpiece in a woodland setting, especially if paired with cream variegated hostas or gold-foliaged plants. 'Purple Passion' has been slow to establish for us so we're guessing that it will grow upwards of 5 to even 6 feet. It is likely as with its cousins clumping with the fashion of slow to moderate increase. Potted plant from division.
Characteristics and Attributes for Polygonatum sibiricum 'Passion Purple'
Season of Interest (Flowering)
- Spring
Season of Interest (Foliage)
- Spring / Summer / into Autumn
Autumn Interest
- Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
Light
- Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
- Dappled Shade
- Shade
Attributes
- Border
- Woodland
Growth Rate in the Garden
- Slow
- Medium
Soil
- Fertile
- Draining
- Woodland
Origins
- China
Propagated By
- Division
Genus Overview: Polygonatum
Common Name: Solomon's Seal
These are the architectural Solomon Seals, all strong contrasting counterpoint to other denizens in the woodland/shade garden. Solomon Seals form spectacular colonies of upright arching stems from rhizomes just under the surface soil and leaf duff. Allan Armitage writes in his 2nd edition of Herbaceous Perennial Plants, “The common name Solomon’s Seal may have been derived from the circular sunken scars that remain on the rootstock after the leaf stalks die and fall off; the scar somewhat resembles a seal impressed on wax on official documents or letters in former times.” The simple leaves are obovate to elliptic turning yellow to golden brown in autumn before dropping. All prefer open shade to morning sun. When flowers are pollinated dangling blue fruits may develop on short paired pedicels along stems from leaf axils. All of the following offerings are by pot grown established division.