# Western Lily of the Valley (*Maianthemum dilatatum*) The Western Lily of the Valley is a lovely flower that grows in shady places. It has small, white, bell-shaped flowers that smell sweet and attract bees and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Western Lily of the Valley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Maianthemum_dilatatum_0764.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maianthemum_dilatatum_0764.JPG) ## Appearance The Western Lily of the Valley has broad, glossy, heart-shaped green leaves. It produces small clusters of tiny, star-shaped white flowers, followed by bright, translucent red berries. Its striking red berries stand out against the deep green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Asparagaceae - **Genus:** Maianthemum ## Interesting facts - Each tiny flower has six star-like petals! - Its shiny red berries look like tiny jewels in the forest! - Sometimes it's called 'False Lily of the Valley' because it looks similar! - This plant is surprisingly related to asparagus! ## Special abilities - **Underground Explorer:** Western Lily of the Valley can spread quickly using underground stems (rhizomes) that help it colonize new areas efficiently. - **Shady Survivor:** Western Lily of the Valley has large leaves that capture faint sunlight, allowing it to thrive in dimly lit forest environments. - **Berry Defender:** Western Lily of the Valley has bright red berries that contain mild toxins, helping to deter most hungry animals from eating them. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Feeds on nectar and carries pollen between flowers. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees visit flowers for nectar, aiding in reproduction. - **Pollinates:** [Common Drone Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly) (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Flies are attracted to flowers, helping to spread pollen. ## Traits - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [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. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [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:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not eat any part of this plant, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Lily of the Valley? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Western Lily of the Valley? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Western Lily of the Valley bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Western Lily of the Valley edible? No ### Is Western Lily of the Valley toxic? Mild ### What is Western Lily of the Valley's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Western Lily of the Valley pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Sitka National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sitka-national-historical-park) — US · National Park - [Arena Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arena-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Azalea State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/azalea-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Capitol State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-state-forest) — Washington, US · Forest - [Hoh Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoh-rainforest) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Western Lily of the Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Lily of the Valley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-lily-of-the-valley)