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

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 March–June.

40states
12of our state lists
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–July. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,148 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #48 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,671 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #59 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,302 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #80 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley gift ideas

Handmade star-flowered lily-of-the-valley gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley art print

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    Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley mug

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    Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley embroidery pattern

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    Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,630 records)
Bloom time in each of our 12 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OregonNativeApril–July3,148
MichiganNativeApril–June2,671
WashingtonNativeApril–July2,302
WisconsinNativeMay–June2,212
IllinoisNativeApril–May2,165
ColoradoNativeMay–June2,137
UtahNativeApril–July1,212
IdahoNativeApril–June918
MontanaNativeMay–June877
WyomingNativeMay–July510
South DakotaNativefew records425
North DakotaNativefew records151

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
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
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.
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
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.

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
Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canada mayflower

Maianthemum canadense

Native

🌼 Blooms: May–June
Siberian squill (Scilla siberica)

Siberian squill

Scilla siberica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: March–April

Sources