Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce

Scented Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum odoratum)

Polygonatum odoratum, the angular Solomon's seal or scented Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Russian Far East, China, Mongolia, Korea, Nepal and Japan. In the United Kingdom it is one of three native species of the genus, the others being P. multiflorum and P. verticillatum.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 48

Convallaria angulosa, Convallaria broteri, Convallaria compressa, Convallaria obtusifolia, Convallaria odorata, Convallaria polygonata, Convallaria polygonatum, Convallaria rupestris, Evallaria polygonatum, Polygonatum anceps, Polygonatum angulosum, Polygonatum gussonei, Polygonatum hondoense, Polygonatum japonicum, Polygonatum langyaense, Polygonatum maximowiczii, Polygonatum officinale, Polygonatum planifilum, Polygonatum polygonatum, Polygonatum quelpaertense, Polygonatum sigillum, Polygonatum simizui, Polygonatum thunbergii, Polygonatum uniflorum, Polygonatum vulgare, Polygonatum multiflorum subsp. broteri, Polygonatum giganteum var. thunbergii, Polygonatum japonicum var. variegatum, Polygonatum maximowiczii var. ramosum, Polygonatum multiflorum var. broteri, Polygonatum odoratum var. ambiguum, Polygonatum odoratum var. japonicum, Polygonatum odoratum var. macranthum, Polygonatum odoratum var. quelpaertense, Polygonatum odoratum var. triploideum, Polygonatum officinale var. ambiguum, Polygonatum officinale var. japonicum, Polygonatum officinale var. macranthum, Polygonatum officinale var. maximowiczii, Polygonatum officinale var. papillosum, Polygonatum officinale var. pluriflorum, Polygonatum thunbergii var. maximowiczii, Polygonatum vulgare var. biflorum, Polygonatum vulgare var. bracteosa, Polygonatum vulgare var. japonicum, Polygonatum vulgare var. macranthum, Convallaria polygonatum f. attenuata, Polygonatum odoratum f. attenuatum

166,717 GBIF occurrences
23,317 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Stable

Conservation: year assessed

2026

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202966/209181175

Habitats

Threats

IUCN: population narrative

Records of the species are numerous and there is currently no indication of widespread population decline. In the United Kingdom, the species' population has apparently stabilised after a period of decline caused by habitat loss in the late 20th century (BSBI/BRC 2023).

IUCN: habitat narrative

Polygonatum odoratum is a rhizomatous, perennial herb of ancient Fraxinus woods and rocky habitats and limestone outcrops and less commonly in thickets, generally growing on calcareous soils. It flowers from May to June and is also grown in gardens (Blamey and Grey-Wilson 2003, Castroviejo et al. 2009, BSBI/BRC 2023).

IUCN: threats narrative

This species has declined with the destruction of limestone pavement and the quarrying of limestone, but this threat is now much reduced, and the distribution has probably stabilised (BSBI/BRC 2023).

IUCN: conservation narrative

Limestone pavement is a priority habitat in the United Kingdom, and is where Polygonatum odoratum can be found. The limestone pavement is protected from loss and deterioration by the United Kingdom and Ireland Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, which oversees the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for Limestone Pavements. As a result P. odoratum is being protected and preserved (BSBI/BRC 2023), and is assessed as VU (C2a(i) (Stroh et al. 2025). It is listed as Near Threatened in Luxembourg (Colling 2005) and Least Concern in Denmark (NERI 2007), Norway (Artsdatabanken 2023), and Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002). The species occurs in several protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)Angular Solomon's-Seal (Polygonatum odoratum) is widespread throughout Europe. In some areas, habitat loss has been identified as a threat. At present, there is no indication of population declines likely to trigger any thresholds for listing as a threatened species. Due to its broad distribution and presumed large, stable population, the species is assessed as Least Concern for both Europe and the EU27 Member States.

Related species

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