False Solomon’s Seal

Maianthemum racemosum

Native woodland plant grows 2-3 feet tall in part shade, features unbranched, gracefully arching stems.

In late spring and early summer feathery masses of small white to pale yellow, fragrant flowers are produced in flat panicles at the ends of the stems. Flower clusters can have between 20 and 80 individual flowers. The flowers are followed by clusters of small rounded berries, each containing a few seeds. They turn from green (or green with purple speckles that gives an overall appearance of a russet color), to translucent red or red and purple-marked when they ripen in late summer or fall.

It gets its common name from its superficial resemblance to Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.) Both are in the lily family (Liliaceae) and are often found together, but are easy to distinguish by where the flowers are produced on the plants.