Variegated Solomon’s seal

* Common name: Variegated Solomon’s seal

* Botanical name: Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’

* What it is: An upright perennial with white-edged, light-green leaves. Spreads by runner to make a mass or groundcover. Although mainly grown for its foliage, it also gets white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring. Won 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year award.

* Size: 2 feet tall. Plant 2 feet apart.

* Where to use: At its best massed as a shady groundcover under trees or in a woodland garden. Doesn’t like full sun. Full shade is fine… or at least out of the afternoon sun.

* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water only in very dry conditions. Optional: Scatter balanced organic granular fertilizer over the bed in early spring. Cut browned-out leaves to the ground at end of winter.

* Great partner: Underneath any shade or flowering tree, especially white bloomers, such as dogwoods, Japanese tree lilacs or flowering pears.

— George Weigel