The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: feathery false Solomon's-seal, large false Solomon's-seal, Solomon's-plume

Family: Liliaceae (lily family)

Synonym: Convallaria racemosa, Smilacina racemosa

Distribution: North America

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: Feathery false Solomon's-seal is a clump-forming perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall. It produces tiny star-shaped creamy white flowers at the ends of stems from April to May. The fragrant flowers are followed by berries in summer that are green and then turn deep red with maturity. The foliage consists of gracefully arching stems of leaves above which the flowers and fruits appear. Overall, the plant has a similar appearance to the true Solomon's-seals (Polygonatum spp.), but those plants have very different flowers that are bell-shaped and hang down beneath the leaves.