Smilacina racemosa
False Solomon's Seal (syn. Maianthemum racemosa)
- Elegant and sophisticated Native for cool, moist shade
- Plants spread slowly by underground rhizomes, building up into dense clumps
- In late spring, it's arching branches are adorned with lightly fragrant, ivory plumes
- followed by deep red berries in late summer
- Best suited for rich, humusy soil that is moist, but well drained, and deep shade
- Drought tolerant when established
- Pest resistant
- Category: Perennials, Natives, MD Native Plants
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Height: 1-3 ft
- Spread: 1-3 ft
- Bloom Color: Cream
Additional Information about Smilacina racemosa
At first glance the plant could be mistaken for Solomon's seal, as the arching stems and the paired foliage look very similar.
It flowers slightly later than Solomon's seal, the difference emerges: smilacina has 15cm (6in) long fluffy, cream plumes of flowers at the tip of each stem, more like astilbe in character.
To propagate, either sow seeds in autumn or divide plants in spring
The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit