Description
A lover of shady woodlands and forests, large false Solomon’s seal is a perennial wildflower in the family Ruscaceae. Sometimes called Solomon’s plume because of its feathery, creamy white, plume-like panicle of flowers, false Solomon’s seal blooms in late spring. The flowers produce green fruit that turn to red or mottled or marbled red, and then solid red in late summer when they ripen up. False Solomon’s seal grows throughout most of the U.S. and Canada, making it a common, well-known, and adored plant. It spreads by seed or by spreading rhizomes in the deep, moist soils it prefers, either individually, or as clumps, and sometimes even large colonies. Arching stems grow 2 – 3′ tall with alternate, oblong-lance-shaped leaves. It prefers average, medium, well-drained soil in part-shade. The genus Maianthemum is a combination of Greek and Latin words meaning “may flowering.” False Solomon’s seal flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, beetles, and other pollinating insects.
Large false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum) seed packets contain approximately 25 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
Seed may take two years to germinate. Sow outside in fall. Will benefit from 6 months cold-moist stratification, followed by 4 months warm-moist stratification, followed by another 5 months cold-moist stratification.
Sow seeds in pots or direct sow outside in fall with a light dusting of soil over the seeds and let nature do the stratification naturally outside if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
