Maianthemum canadense
(Canada Mayflower)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:

    Common Names: Canada Mayflower, Canadian May Lily, False Lily-of-the-Valley, Canadian Lily-of-the-Valley, Wild Lily-of-the-Valley, Two-leaved Solomon's Seal
    Synonyms: Unifolium canadense
    Lifespan: Perennial
    Zones: 2 - 7
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: May - June
    Status: Native
    Range:

Maianthemum canadense, or Canada Mayflower, is native to only the northeastern US and the Great Lakes states, and also extends down into the Appalachian area. It is a perennial that grows in open woods, usually in partial shade, and can also be on woodland edges and the surrounding area. It blooms in mid to late spring with short stalks of small white flowers that give way to red berries.

This plant has several lookalikes in its genus. Maiantheum stellatum and Maiantheum racemosum both are much larger plants and grow in dry woods. They each also have larger flowers. The closest looking that also has a range overlap is Maiantheum trifolium, but it too is different, as it has more leaves that are lance-shaped, and is a bit taller and has yellowish flowers with purple stamens, where Maianthemum canadense has only one to two heart-shaped leaves, and smaller, whiter flowers. Finally, a western species, Maiantheum dilatatum looks very similar, but it has a very different range, where it only grows in the Pacific Northwest and the two do not overlap in range. See a comparison of the five species below.

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