Maianthemum racemosum, false Solomon's Seal
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Perennials

Maianthemum racemosum

false Solomon's Seal

Asparagaceae

Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon, California; across most of North America; moist to dry woodlands, forest edges, and shaded slopes

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitSpreading
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-3 feet (45-90 cm)
Width18-30 inches (45-75 cm); spreads by rhizome

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Drought Tolerant
Fragrant (moderate)
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

A rhizomatous, colony-forming, deciduous herbaceous perennial in the family Asparagaceae, native to moist to dry woodlands, forest edges, and shaded slopes from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon to California and across most of North America. The specific epithet racemosum means 'having racemes,' though the flowers are technically borne in a branched panicle (not a true raceme). The PNW population is referable to subspecies amplexicaule, in which the leaf bases clasp the stem directly without a petiole — a useful field distinction from the eastern subspecies. Plants grow 1.5–3 feet (45–90 cm) tall with arching, unbranched stems bearing 7–15 alternate, lance-shaped to elliptic, bright green leaves 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long with prominent parallel veins and a clasping base. From May through June, the stem tip produces a large, branched, feathery, pyramidal panicle 2–5 inches (5–13 cm) long of dozens to hundreds of small, creamy-white, sweetly fragrant, six-parted flowers. Berries ripen from green with dark red stripes to bright red by August–September and are consumed by grouse, thrushes, and small mammals. Berries are mildly toxic to humans in quantity (purgative). Fragrant flowers are a reliable identification character.

Native Range

Native to moist to dry woodlands, forest edges, and shaded slopes from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California across most of North America.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a native woodland perennial or colony-forming groundcover in Pacific Northwest shade gardens, forest edges, and woodland border plantings at 18–24 inch (45–60 cm) spacing. The arching stems, feathery white flower panicles, and red fall berries provide excellent multi-season interest. More adaptable to typical garden shade conditions than many PNW natives. Combines with Polystichum munitum, Heuchera micrantha, Trillium ovatum, and Cornus unalaschkensis in PNW shade and woodland gardens.

How to Identify

Identified by arching, unbranched stems 1.5–3 feet (45–90 cm) tall with 7–15 alternate, lance-shaped to elliptic, bright green leaves 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) with prominent parallel veins and clasping (amplexicaule) bases in PNW populations. The stem tip produces a large, branched, feathery, pyramidal panicle of sweetly fragrant creamy-white six-parted flowers May–June — the feathery branched panicle (not a simple raceme or cylindrical cluster) is the key distinction from M. stellatum (simple raceme of fewer, larger star-like flowers) and M. dilatatum (dense cylindrical raceme of four-parted flowers). Bright red berries follow in fall. The fragrant, feathery flower panicle and arching stem with clasping leaves are collectively diagnostic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 3'
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

white
cream

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow
orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks
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Spring
Blooms May through June for 3–5 weeks, producing large, branched, feathery, pyramidal panicles of dozens to hundreds of small, sweetly fragrant, creamy-white, six-parted flowers at each arching stem tip. Fragrance is a reliable identification character and attracts diverse native bees and flies. Berries ripen from green with dark stripes to bright red by August–September — consumed by grouse, thrushes, and small mammals.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white; sweetly fragrant; small six-parted flowers in large branched FEATHERY PYRAMIDAL PANICLE 2–5 inches at stem tip — key distinction from M. stellatum (simple raceme) and M. dilatatum (cylindrical 4-parted); May–June; bright red berries Aug–Sept

Foliage Description

bright green; 7–15 alternate lance-shaped to elliptic leaves 3–6 inches with prominent parallel veins; clasping (amplexicaule) base in PNW subspecies — no petiole; arching unbranched stems

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Full Shade
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loampeatsand
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in partial to full shade in moist to average, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.0–7.0. One of the most adaptable native PNW woodland perennials — tolerates a wider range of moisture and soil conditions than most shade perennials, from periodically dry forest understory to consistently moist streamside soils. Spreads by creeping rhizome to form loose colonies over time. No fertilizer needed. More tolerant of dry summer conditions than Maianthemum dilatatum.

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove dead stems in late winter before new growth emerges. Divide congested clumps in early spring if desired.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to humans
Maianthemum racemosum (false Solomon's Seal) - Identification & Care Guide | PlantRef