Star-flowered Solomon’s Seal

Star-flowered Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

Also known as: Solomon plume, wild spikenard

Bloom time: May – June

Additional photos:

• Maianthemum stellatum just before first bloom
  credit: Rowena Hopkins
• Maianthemum stellatum before mid bloom
  credit: Linda Kershaw
• Maianthemum stellatum mid bloom
  credit: Rowena Hopkins

General: An elegant wildflower (15-60 cm) with tall, arching stems.

Leaves & Twigs:

• The narrow, grey-green leaves have long, noticeable veins.
• Leaf size and shape can vary, depending on where the plant is located. In bright light, the leaves are stiff; in shade, they are limp but tend to grow larger.

Flowers & Fruits

• The white flowers (up to 6 mm wide) have six petals, and form a loose group at the end of each leafy stem.
• Berries are greenish with dark stripes, before turning red, and then nearly black, in early fall.

Habitat: Prefers woodlands, open meadows and shores of sandy marshes.

PlantWatch Pointers: Select a typical patch of plants, if the plants are very abundant, mark off a l-metre-square section to observe.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first flowers are open in the observed plants.
• Mid bloom: when 50% of the flowers are open in the observed plants.

Distribution Map:

This species is monitored in:

• Alberta
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

The species name, stellata, means “star-like” and describes the lovely white flowers.