False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. racemosum [Old=Smilacina racemosa], Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, False Spikenard, False Lily of the Valley

(Feathery False Lily of the Valley, False Spikenard). Flowers: The small 1/8" wide white flowers of spring appear in a branched pyramid shaped cluster at the end of the stem (a raceme). They are 6-parted each on a short stalk, the stamens with yellow anthers, quite prominent, creating a starry appearance. Leaves are lance shaped with pointed tips, alternate, stalkless but not clasping. The stems are unbranched, always arched and appear to have a zig-zag. Stems can be up to 30+ inches long but usually half that, and have very fine hair. The fruits develop as green berries that turn a dull to bright red in autumn, while the leaves turn yellow providing a good fall color accent to the landscape. The true Solomon's Seal has flowers that hang below the leaves along the length of the stem. The plant will do well in home gardens if the soil is kept slightly acidic and since it grows from creeping rhizomes it can make an interesting ground cover. It does not spread rapidly, so it is not invasive. It needs shade for most of the day. Botanists have recently reclassified the plant into the genus Maianthemum which is made up from two words meaning "May flower". The species name, racemosum, is Latin for "having a raceme."

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	False Solomon's Seal	Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link [Old=Smilacina racemosa]	Lily (Liliaceae)	Upland and Woodland	Spring to Fall Color
Other names and notes	(Feathery False Lily of the Valley, False Spikenard). Flowers: The small 1/8" wide white flowers of spring appear in a branched pyramid shaped cluster at the end of the stem (a raceme). They are 6-parted each on a short stalk, the stamens with yellow anthers, quite prominent, creating a starry appearance. Leaves are lance shaped with pointed tips, alternate, stalkless but not clasping. The stems are unbranched, always arched and appear to have a zig-zag. Stems can be up to 30+ inches long but usually half that, and have very fine hair. The fruits develop as green berries that turn a dull to bright red in autumn, while the leaves turn yellow providing a good fall color accent to the landscape. The true Solomon's Seal has flowers that hang below the leaves along the length of the stem. The plant will do well in home gardens if the soil is kept slightly acidic and since it grows from creeping rhizomes it can make an interesting ground cover. It does not spread rapidly, so it is not invasive. It needs shade for most of the day. Botanists have recently reclassified the plant into the genus Maianthemum which is made up from two words meaning "May flower". The species name, racemosum, is Latin for "having a raceme."