Solomon's Seal is a lovely woodland perennial with native varieties in North America, Asia and Europe. It can grow up to two feet tall. (Greater Solomon's Seal is much larger than True Solomon's Seal, but they have identical properties.) The plant consists of a single stem with many broad, ovate leaves with paralel veination arranged alternately along the length of it and clasping the base. The plant often grows in a slight arc and the flowers dangle from the leaf axils beneath the arc of the stem. (This gives the plant its folk name "sow's teats") The flowers are small, white to pale yellowish green and tubular and occur in drooping clusters of two to five. Blooming begins in April and continues through midsummer. The berries appear as the flowers fade and resemble a hard black pea.
The root is a rhisome and it is said that the circular scar left by the stem after it breaks away from the root resembles the seal of Solomon of Hebrew folklore. (Also known as the Star of David.)
In addition to True and Greater Solomon's Seal, the gardening industry has created a lovely verigated Solomon's Seal. This has identical properties to the original.