- Botanical name: Maianthemum oleracea
- Common name: False solomon's seal
- Family: Convallariaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Formerly Smilacina, Mianthemum is an elegant and sophisticated plant, ideal for growing in cool, moist shade. At first glance the plant could be mistaken for Solomon’s seal, as the arching stems and the paired foliage look very similar. However when it flowers, slightly later than Solomon’s seal, the difference emerges: mianthemum has long fluffy, cream plumes of flowers at the tip of each stem, similar in character to astilbe.
Mianthemum oleracea is particularly striking. The foliage rises early in the season and is held on tall, rigid stems. It bears red-edged, white flowers in huge clusters at the tips of stems.
Plants spread slowly by underground rhizomes, building up into dense clumps. For best results grow in moist soil in a shady position.
How to grow Maianthemum oleracea
-
Plant size
90cm height
40cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing, south facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do Sow in September |
O
Do Sow in October |
N
Do Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Maianthemum oleracea and wildlife
Maianthemum oleracea has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Maianthemum oleracea poisonous?
Maianthemum oleracea has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
