Maianthemum canadense (Canada Mayflower)

Plant Info
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):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: indistinct Cluster type: raceme Cluster type: spike

[photo of flowers] 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: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] 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: Fruit type: berry/drupe

[photo of fruit] 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

Photos 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?

Posted by: Jeanne - Minnehaha Falls
on: 2010-06-12 21:01:05

Below the Falls at the mouth of the Creek

Posted by: Steve - Ramsey Minnesota
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

Posted by: Pat - Pillager
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.

Posted by: Noelle - Ely
on: 2012-06-04 21:37:11

Along the road to the International Wolf Center.

Posted by: Joelle - Lebanon Hills Regional Park
on: 2013-06-03 11:10:48

Surprised to spot some of these in Eagan MN (Dakota County). Usually I see them further north.

Posted by: Laurie - Deer River
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.

Posted by: Kelly - North Shore of Lake Superior near Duluth
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.

Posted by: Steve W - Mower County
on: 2017-05-30 16:53:26

I noticed these blooming for the first time today on our farm in Mower County.

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