solomon's seal: arching direction?

12 years ago

I have what may sound like a silly question...

I planted one solomon's seal in a smallish shade border. The small plant grew big and I love it, except that I am not totally happy of the overall look because of its arching direction. Every time I look at the "ensemble", I'm telling myself that it should arch the other way to fill a void instead of crowding its neighbor.

Now I need to design another shade border and will include a variegated one, but I do not want to make the same mistake. So I need to understand their arching behavior, to identify what dictates their arching direction : Is is the light? If I examine the arching pattern of a small plant, can I predict the arching behavior of the plant at maturity?

You all seem to be growing Solomon's seal. What are your observations? Any info will be highly appreciated.

Lynn

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
12 years ago
It is phototropic - the stem arch (and therefore the flowers) will align themselves with the maximum sunlight availability.
l_mtl
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you. Will take this into consideration next time!
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Birdsong72
12 years ago
Solomon's Seal is just part of the matrix of the forest floor. Why 'fuss' with that arching behavior when it's just doing what it's supposed to. There are no straight lines in nature. Or make that rarely.
l_mtl
Original Author
12 years ago
This is a lovely picture and I tend to agree with the principle.
However, most city front lawn borders (in the shade) do not have the space to reach a look that is so "au naturel". I know mine needs more "intervention"...
arcy_gw
12 years ago
FYI: The variegated are not as tall so don't arch to the extreme other types do. All plants will grow toward the sun. Some even follow it as it moves through the ski. A day near a sunflower field is amazing.
lov2garden
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Lynn, I'm so glad you brought this topic up!!! I have VSS in a three foot swath between a privacy fence and a gravel path in a shady area. It has always arched towards the gravel path which looked lovely the first several years. However, it kept marching forward arching INTO the path. I put up a cute low fence to hold it back which worked for a while. Now it's coming up in the gravel path and all of the plants have grown a foot away from the fence leaving a big gap and it's all messy looking. I finally GET IT! They want more sun and are growing toward it. I'm moving them all to an area I think they will like better. Thanks you for ending my fight against Nature. I had "trouble" with day lilies and sunflowers blooming "backwards" or "sideways" until I read that they both face the setting sun. Right plants, wrong places!

Barbara