False Solomon's Seal

The easiest way to distinguish them is by their flowers: False Solomon's Seal (*Maianthemum racemosum*) has a cluster of tiny white flowers at the very end of its arching stem. True Solomon's Seal (*Polygonatum* species) has bell-shaped flowers that hang down beneath the stem from the leaf axils. Both are woodland perennials, but their bloom placement is entirely different.

After the fragrant white flowers bloom in the spring, False Solomon's Seal produces small, round berries in late summer. These berries transition from a green color to a speckled red, and eventually turn a translucent ruby red when fully ripe. They are highly favored by woodland birds.

False Solomon's Seal is native to moist, deciduous woodlands across North America. It thrives in shaded environments with rich, organic soil, often found growing in large, spreading colonies. It ranges from Canada down through the eastern and midwestern United States.

While birds readily eat the red berries of False Solomon's Seal, the plant is considered mildly toxic to humans if consumed in large quantities. The roots and young shoots were historically consumed by Indigenous peoples after careful preparation, usually by thorough cooking or roasting. However, eating the raw berries can cause digestive upset.