Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a member of the Lily family. It’s a graceful and delicate wildflower, with a single arching stem with upward-reaching leaves and tiny blossoms that hang down, as in the photo below. In fact, you might miss the small blossoms except for the fact that the plant likes to branch out from the steep hillsides that are often encountered on Smoky Mtns trails. The leaves appear in early April, and the flowers bloom from late April on into May. Hike almost any trail at the low to mid-elevations and you will see this wildflower.
The name Solomon’s Seal comes from the circular scar left on the root by each year’s flower stalk, resembling a wax seal.
When the wildflower hunt is over or when rain holds you back from a hike, please stop in at the William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd in Gatlinburg. The complete display of Smoky Mtns photos might contain a special memory to take home!
Also, please consider joining my Smoky Mtns Wildflower Community on Facebook. We share photos and exchange identification tips and trail locations.
I love wildflowers, Solomons Seal is very beautiful. My daughter and I saw beautiful things on Rich Mountain yesterday. Goats Beard,Bowmans root lots of Galax. Also Indian Pink. I enjoy your photos,