Bloomipedia
Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum)
Photo: gpete via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley

Maianthemum stellatum

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum) is a flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 12 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

40states where USDA records it
12Bloomipedia state lists include it
30,736U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Quick look

Maianthemum stellatum (star-flowered, starry, or little false Solomon's seal, or simply false Solomon's seal; star-flowered lily-of-the-valley or starry false lily of the valley; is a species of flowering plant, native across North America. It has been found in northern Mexico, every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut, and in every US state except Hawaii and the states of the Southeast.

  • It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 40 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,148 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #49 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,671 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #59 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,302 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #81 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,630 records)
Bloom time in the 12 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OregonNativeApril–June3,148
MichiganNativeMay–June2,671
WashingtonNativeMay–July2,302
WisconsinNativeMay–June2,212
IllinoisNativeApril–May2,165
ColoradoNativeMay–June2,137
UtahNativeMay–July1,212
IdahoNativefew records (41)918
MontanaNativeMay–June877
WyomingNativefew records (29)510
South DakotaNativefew records (11)425
North DakotaNativefew records (17)151

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 12 states.
See each state
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AR (S1), DC (S1), KS (S2), KY (S1), MD (S2), OK (SH), TN (S1), VA (S1), WV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Illinois. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records star-flowered lily-of-the-valley in 40 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Osceola, Oscoda, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 927 counties across 40 states; the most are in Minnesota (75), Michigan (61), Wisconsin (61).

Other Maianthemum on Bloomipedia (3): Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Western Lily of the Valley.

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yuccas, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Chaparral yucca, Mojave yucca, Wavy-leafed soap plant, Soaptree yucca, Western joshua tree.

More Oregon flowers

Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal) (Maianthemum racemosum)

Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal)

Maianthemum racemosum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–June
Western Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum)

Western Lily of the Valley

Maianthemum dilatatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: May–June
Great camas (Camassia leichtlinii)

Great camas

Camassia leichtlinii

Native

🌼 Blooms in OR: April–May

Sources