Maianthemum canadense (Canada Mayflower)
| Also known as: | Wild Lily-of-the-valley, False Lily-of-the-valley |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Maianthemum |
| Family: | Ruscaceae (Butcher's Broom) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; woods |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 3 to 6 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FAC NCNE: FACU |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/canada-mayflower_0608_112046.jpg)
Flowers are in a densely packed spike-like raceme 1 to 2½ inches long at the top of the stem. Individual flowers are about 3/8 inch across with 4 white petals that drop off soon after blooming, and 4 thick creamy tipped stamens that project out like the points of a star. One plant has a single cluster, though not all plants flower.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/canada-mayflower_0608_114308.jpg)
Sterile plants have 1 leaf; fertile plants have 2 or occasionally 3 leaves of unequal size, with heart-shaped bases and pointed tips. The largest leaf is up to 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. There are feint stripes and parallel veins along the length of the leaf. Leaves are toothless and hairless. The main stem zig-zags between the alternately attached leaves.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/canada-mayflower_0825_174254.jpg)
Fruit is a green berry about ¼ inch in diameter, mottled with dull pale red that ripens to dark red in late summer.
Notes:
Canada Mayflower is a common woodland spring wildflower, typically found growing in colonies of various sizes. Formerly in the Liliaceae (Lily) family, all Maianthemum species have been reassigned to Ruscaceae (Butcher's Broom).
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More photos
a patch of Canada MayflowerPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake and Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional parks, Ramsey County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-06-12 21:01:05
Below the Falls at the mouth of the Creek
on: 2011-06-17 20:32:55
Our house lot was part of a tree farm - the flowers are in a small colony underneath a group of scotch pine
on: 2011-09-05 21:31:32
I have these growing all over in my native vegetative lot. Quite nice little flowers and can definitely replace the over used Lily-of-the Valley.
on: 2012-06-04 21:37:11
Along the road to the International Wolf Center.
on: 2013-06-03 11:10:48
Surprised to spot some of these in Eagan MN (Dakota County). Usually I see them further north.
on: 2013-08-31 19:38:38
I have a small patch of these growing amid sugar maple seedlings, red baneberry, and near a blue cohosh in a vegetative area under mature sugar maples.
on: 2015-06-20 15:30:39
These are growing in the pine forests near the Scenic Drive/Highway 61. They are growing near bunchberry plants.
on: 2017-05-30 16:53:26
I noticed these blooming for the first time today on our farm in Mower County.
on: 2018-05-21 09:50:33
Along the edge of the woods.
on: 2018-06-26 14:45:42
We have had these growing on our lot for a number of years.
on: 2021-05-05 09:13:25
I have quite a few showing up on my property after removing invasives.
on: 2021-05-14 11:02:52
Is the best way to distinguish these from European Lily-of-the-Valley simply the size of the leaves? I've looked at a few keys and ID guides for each species and that is the only major difference I'm really noticing. Thanks!
on: 2021-05-14 13:25:02
Jaron, leaves of the European species are indeed distinctly longer (to 8 inches) and proportionately narrower, tapering at the base, and non-flowering plants have 2 leaves; leaves of the native are usually less than half as long, more heart-shaped at the base and non-flowering shoots have a single leaf. When flowering they are easy to distinguish from the flower shape and arrangement.