canada mayflower
Maianthemum canadense
USDA zones3 to 6
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to wet soil
Sizeup to 10 inches tall
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- White
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) is a perennial for ground cover, shade gardens, and low maintenance beds. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and dry to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. It spreads by rhizomes and forms carpet-like colonies of tiny white flowers followed by pale red berries. It sits low on the menu for deer. A winter cover of leaves or needles helps it.
Pairs well with Christmas fern, Subarctic ladyfern, and Yellow trout-lily.
Native range
CT, DC, DE, GA, and 32 more places. See all 36
CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY; MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, and PE.