This is still a common woodland perennial that is native to much of North America from Alaska into Mexico in Zones 3 to 8 in rich woods; liking moist, humusy, well-drained soils. It slowly spreads by rhizomes, underground stems, but is not aggressive, and forms colonies eventually. It has unbranched, arching stems of alternate, sort of oval leaves with conspicuous parallel veins, basically a Monocot. It bears tiny, creamy white, fragrant flowers in terminal raceme clusters in May, mostly pollinated by bees and beetles. It forms berries that are green at first and mature to ruby red in late summer and often remain into the fall, unless songbirds and small mammals eat the fruit right away. This perennial develops a fairly good yellow fall color. I learned the scientific name of this Common Solomon's-Plume or Common False-Solomon's-Seal as Smilacina racemosa, two Latin words. However, the new botanists have changed the generic name to Maianthemum that comes from two Greek words of: "Maios" = May & "anthemon" = blossom. New botanists have also divided the Lily Family of Liliaceae into four divisions, and this genus is now considered by them as in the Asparagus Family of Asparagaceae. I think it is a wonderful, beautiful woodland forb that makes a good shady garden perennial, and is sold by a number of native plant nurseries as: Prairie Nursery, Prairie moon, Sevenoaks, Archwild, and others.

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A subtly gorgeous native plant. I've seen it growing wild in the woods here (In Massachusetts) as well as in Michigan. The red berries that follow the flowers are every bit as attractive as the flowers, both of which sprout from the ends of arching stems that very much resemble solomon's seal.

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Native in the Pacific Northwest, found in moist to wet shaded areas. The berries, mottled green to begin with and then bright red, are edible but not particularly palatable. Naturalizes readily in areas it likes, then goes dormant about mid-summer. Used medicinally by various native peoples. I find it a good companion for bulbs.

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