False Solomon’s Seal is an elegant native perennial for woodland and shade gardens, valued for its arching stems, lush foliage, and fragrant plumes of creamy white flowers that brighten shady sites in late spring.

• Easy to grow
• Compact growth habit
• Thrives in shade

Details

• 12 to 18 inches tall and wide when in flower
• Perennial that dies back in the fall and re-emerges in spring
• Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Flowering period

In central North Carolina, flowering typically begins in May and lasts two to three weeks.

How to grow

Prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It thrives in partial to full shade and is well adapted to woodland conditions. Plants grown in lighter shade or filtered sunlight tend to flower more profusely, while those in deeper shade will have excellent foliage but fewer blooms.

Care and maintenance

Very low maintenance. Cut stems back to ground level after foliage yellows in fall or anytime after a hard frost. Mulching with leaf litter or compost helps retain moisture and mimic natural woodland conditions.

Where to plant

Ideal for shade gardens, woodland edges, native plant gardens, or naturalized areas beneath deciduous trees.

When to plant

Anytime the ground is not frozen.

Spacing

Plant 18 to 24 inches apart when massing or planting in groups.

When will my plant flower?

Plants are two years old and should produce some flowers the year after planting.

Native habitat and range

Maianthemum racemosus is native to rich, deciduous forests, woodland slopes, and stream banks across much of eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada south to Georgia and west to the Great Plains.

Source and origin

Plants are grown from divisions off a plant growing wild in the woods on our property in Chatham County, NC.