It all started with an email from Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., listing Tony Avent’s favorite plants. One of the plants highlighted was Gigantic Hybrid Solomon’s Seal ( Polygonatum x hybridum ‘Giganteum’ .) Honestly, I am not sure if this 30” high plant is the plant I bought when I visited this nursery in 2009 or if my plant is the 36” high  Polygonatum infundiflorum ‘Lemon Seoul’ . Both are dramatic, deer-resistant shade plants around hip to waist high. Mine now covers a 3’x4’ area under the pecan tree. Of course, Solomon’s Seal is dormant in January, so that area looks like brown mulch now.

That email also linked to  a video that showed how to divide  Solomon’s Seal. Easy-peasy. If you plant a root piece with a bud, foliage will emerge next year; if you plant a piece of the root without a bud, give it until next year to see foliage. It took an hour to run outside with a shovel and some labeled plant tags (I am better about labeling my plants now, but still blame the years with plant-tag-flinging, free-range, but so endearing chickens for losing precious information.) Soon I had four of  these very handy containers  planted and set on the tailgate of my little red truck for friends to pick up.

Many gardeners grow the easier-to-find  Variegated Solomon’s Seal , about half the height but with white splashes on the green leaves that brighten a shade garden. I also have a petite Solomon’s Seal that is about 3” tall in my garden and Plant Delights offers  one that is 60” tall. Plant Delights also offers  this 22-minute video  that talks about different Solomon’s Seals. Warning: may cause one to become a collector.