Polygonatum

A rich addition to the woodland garden or herbaceous border. Often arching stems, which may be coloured, from which dangle delightful tubular flowers from the leaf axils. Cream, white, lilac or green and some scented. These will die down over winter, unlike its relative Disporopsis, which stay evergreen. The common name derives from a scar left by the deciduous leaf which looks like an ancient seal. There are a couple of native species to the UK, P. multiflorum, P. odoratum and P. verticillatum, with many more spreading across from Europe into Asia.