# star-flowered lily-of-the-valley (*Maianthemum stellatum*) The star-flowered lily-of-the-valley is a lovely flower that blooms in spring. It has tiny, star-shaped white flowers that look like little stars shining in the forest! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Forests ![star-flowered lily-of-the-valley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Maianthemum_stellatum_15290.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maianthemum_stellatum_15290.JPG) ## Appearance The star-flowered lily-of-the-valley is a delicate plant with unbranched stems holding 2-4 oval, pointed leaves. It features small clusters of pure white, star-shaped flowers, each with six petals. These flowers are followed by striped green berries that ripen to a translucent, ruby-red. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Asparagaceae - **Genus:** Maianthemum ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a 'true' lily-of-the-valley, but a close relative! - Its scientific name means 'May flower with stars' – how poetic! - The berries start with green stripes, then magically turn a shiny translucent red! - You can find these tiny white stars blooming even in cool, damp forest shade! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Explorer:** Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley can spread through underground stems (rhizomes) that helps it form large colonies. - **Shade Seeker:** Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley has broad leaves that help it capture sunlight efficiently in shady forest understories. - **Berry Beacon:** Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley produces bright red berries that help it attract birds for seed dispersal. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats its ripe red berries - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Consumes the sweet berries ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or eat any wild plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify star-flowered lily-of-the-valley? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is star-flowered lily-of-the-valley? 15-60 cm ### How wide does star-flowered lily-of-the-valley spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on star-flowered lily-of-the-valley? 0.5-1 cm ### When does star-flowered lily-of-the-valley bloom? Spring ### Is star-flowered lily-of-the-valley edible? No ### Is star-flowered lily-of-the-valley toxic? Mild ### What is star-flowered lily-of-the-valley's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gibraltar-rock-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Kincaid Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kincaid-park) — Alaska, US · Park - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/university-of-wisconsin-madison-arboretum) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Arcata Community Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arcata-community-forest) — California, US · Forest [View all places to see star-flowered lily-of-the-valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/star-flowered-lily-of-the-valley) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Star-flowered Lily-of-the-valley Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/star-flowered-lily-of-the-valley)