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Solomon's Plume

Maianthemum racemosum

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Shade
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Dry
Bloom time
Apr–Jun
Bloom color
White
Notes
Rhizomatous

About Solomon's Plume

Solomon's Plume is a classic woodland beauty that offers multi-season interest and exceptional wildlife value. This graceful perennial features arching stems that grow 1 to 3 feet long, adorned with large, alternate leaves that have a pleated appearance. In late spring, the stems are tipped with feathery plumes of tiny, fragrant white flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and beetles. As the season progresses, these flowers give way to clusters of berries that transition from green-speckled to a deep translucent red, providing a vital food source for woodland birds and small mammals. Native to rich forests and thickets across North America, Solomon's Plume is a quintessential choice for shade gardens. It thrives in partial to full shade and prefers medium-wet to medium, humus-rich soils, though it is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. Whether used as a specimen plant or massed as a groundcover, its elegant form and persistent berries make it a standout in any shaded landscape.

Native range

Native to 50 states:

AlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutD.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Maianthemum racemosum

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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