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False Solomon's-seal

Maianthemum racemosum

Found in moist to dry forests. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

50
Strong

Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
2–3 feet
Spread
1.5–3 feet
Light
Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 2 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 25 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
April to June
Fruiting season
August to October

Recorded in 103 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Moist forests

Shortia beneath rhododendrons in mountain woodland
Regional / representative. Shown: Mountains of North and South Carolina; exact site not identified, a neighboring state.Shortia beneath rhododendrons in mountain woodland, Marian Ellis Rowan, 1901. Public domain. Source record.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 152 animals.

All wildlife of Virginia

Care

  • Handle roots gently when moving plants.
Care sources
Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Maianthemum

  • Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
12BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Maianthemum

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Maianthemum

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Catharus fuscescensVeery
  • Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
  • Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush
  • Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
  • Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
  • Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
  • Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
  • Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Beetles 4
  • Bruchus minus
  • Mordellistena biplagiata
  • Trichius affinis
  • Valgus canaliculatus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Flies 5
  • Criorhina decora
  • Culex nigripes
  • Empis humilis
  • Siphona geniculata
  • Volucella vesiculosa

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ruscaceae
Hardiness
Zones 2a–8b
Flower color
White
Fruit begins
August
Fruit ends
October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

False Solomon's seal; False Solomons Seal; Smilacina racemosa; Solomons Plume

Conservation status

Virginia rankS5
Global rankG5
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

Growing cautions

For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.

Sources