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): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
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).
Please visit our sponsors
Where to buy native seed and plants ↓
Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest
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.
on: 2021-05-14 21:20:19
We have them in many groups of single leaves. That made them hard to ID - no flower color to look up! My friend's son ID'd them from an app. We also saw them (single leaves) at Afton SP last Saturday. Are they poisonous to dogs?