Sympathies, Heruga, am sure many gardeners have had problems with plant identification stemming from mislabelling and/or from plant naming confusion; me too.

Re Polygonatum: I've used several Solomon's seal (Polygonatum) and now realize how confusing it can be identifying the plants. The taller common garden Solomon's seal, sold under various names, is itself a hybrid between P. multiform x P. falcatum (identified as Polygonatum x hybridum: viz. a garden form).

Re the commonly sold Solomon's seal with variegated leaves, at least according to the Royal Horticultural Society: full names, P. odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' and P. falcatum 'Variegatum' are the same plant, with the former name having Priority (viz. being the correct one). I realize that there may be disagreements at any one time between the different authorities on plant nomenclature, but following the frequently cited Royal Horticultural Society, the confusion is not with failing to distinguish between "Polygonatum odoratum Variegatum" and "Polygonatum falcatum Variegatum" but failing to recognize them as the same plant.

Personally, even when confident in having the correct name (hence identification), I tend not to trust me getting the correct plant from vendors. Hence I like to see the plant itself, including being in flower (if flowering is an important consideration). I realize this may not be possible for gardeners who don't live in large urban areas.

So all variegated Solomons seal in the market are actually an odoratum species? Because falcatum is not a synonym, it is an entirely different species of polygonatum. Through the Japanese websites I looked at all of them say odoratum has sharp edges on its stem while the falcatum is smooth and perfectly cylindrical stem. I saw a plant labeled polygonatum falcatum 'variegatum' at another nursery the other day, felt the stems but it had edges on it like an odoratum is supposed to. So I assume that is mistakenly labeled. But anyways, are you saying that those 2 species are actually synonyms? Because they really are not.

I think no; RHS recognizes a Polygonatum x hybridum 'Striatum' which apparently has been called variegated.

Polygonatum odoratum and P. falcatum are definitely different species (as you say, Heruga); RHS lists both the species and several cultivars (recognized or tentatively recognized) for the former and the species and a number of cultivars (recognized or tentatively recognized) for the latter.

I too would assume this is a case of a cultivar being assigned to the wrong species.

Ok but can I safely assume that the nurseries selling the plant labeled polygonatum odoratum 'variegatum' is actually true to name and not a falcatum?

It might be better to go by the look of the plant itself. I believe that if you see that the Solomon's seal plant has variegated leaves, it's going to be Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (according to the nomenclature followed by RHS!); that whatever the label says. To my present understanding, the only possible confusion might be with Polygonatum x hybridum 'Striatum', a dwarf form, which also has variegated leaves.

Thanks. I went and bought 5 of them today and planted them as a mass in my dry shady area :)

If you bought 95(!) mislabeled liriope--must have cost a fortune--surely the nursery owes you a refund. If they came from a big box, well, no surprise there.

I am fascinated by the human need to name and classify and label everything. I only use botanical names and not common names, for obvious reasons, but the anthropologist in me is interested in human behavior.

If I don't like a plant, I get rid of it. I have to prioritize my stressors. ;)

I got a grass cultivar locally and then ordered 4 more of the same name online when they were on sale. Now, the ones i got locally dont look the same, the blades are larger, wider, and more sparse, while the mail order ones have finer blades and more of them. Im thinking the local ones are a different cultivar altogether. Im going to wait and see next year if they start looking more similar, but I can see where this can become a problem. I got the cultivar for a more uniform, shorter look from a species that can be all over the place looks-wise.

Lacyvail, unfortunately I bought those plants 2 years ago so no way of retuning them..

Hey sunnyborders, since we've mentioned polygonatum hybridum 'striatum', are you able to tell if this is a P. hybridum 'striatum' or P. odoratum 'variegatum'? These are the plants I bought labeled as P. odoratum 'variegatum'

Images, Heruga, great way to start with identification; but sorry can't say. Have never seen/grown it myself.

Reference below describes Polygonatum x hybridum 'Striatum' as "stems adorned with small, dark blue-green, crinkled foliage, surrounded by an irregular white border". Could fit. And it's a dwarf form.

I guessing that since this cultivar is a garden hybrid it might show observable variability in (phenotypic) expression, though that does not have to be the case.

The opinion I'd trust most of all is that of someone who'd seen a lot of P. x hybridum 'Striatum'. Judging on-line, it may not be that commonly used (or identified).

I recognize some wisdom with those gardeners (e.g. above) who don't get hung up with cultivar identification, still I'm not programmed that way. For me, it's so nice that efficiency for a gardener is whatever they make of it themselves.

https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/polygonatum-x-hybridum-striatum-v

Ok, well either ways the hybridum still has P. odoratum in its genetics so I can still safely call it a P. odoratum I guess

Heruga, I think we're too conscientious; it's not like we're doing academic research in the field of Botany or even in the area of Horticulture.

On the other hand, we're still with the issue of wanting to receive from the gardening vendors what we've paid for.