Plant Details

Smilacina racemosa

False spikenard, False solomon’s seal

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Smilacina racemosa.

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Common names

30 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • false Solomon's seal[1]
  • False solomon’s seal
  • False spikenard
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Pacific Solomon's seal[1]
  • Solomon's plume[1]
  • Trackle-berries[1]
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Troslelietje
  • Valse salomonszegel
French
  • Sceau de Salomon faux
  • smilacine à grappes[1]
Cherokee
  • ᎤᏗᎵᏍᏗ[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • Smilacina hroznovitá[1]
Danish
  • Almindelig skyggeblomst[1]
Finnish
  • tertturotkokielo[1]
German
  • Duftsiegel[1]
Norwegian
  • toppkonvall[1]
Nuuchahnulth
  • xəxq’əléełp[1]
Ojibwe
  • Agongosiwijiibik (Ginebigwashk, Agongosimizh, Agongosiminan)[1]
Polish
  • Majówka groniasta[1]
Portuguese
  • Falso-lírio-emplumado-do-vale[1]
  • Falso-selo-de-salomão[1]
  • Pluma-de-salomão[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Selo-de-salomão-do-pacífico[1]
Russian
  • Майник кистевидный[1]
  • Майник кистистый[1]
Secwepemc
  • q̓icnéllp[1]
Slovak
  • tôňovka strapcovitá[1]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Maianthemum racemosum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Solomon's plume — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • false Solomon's seal — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Pacific Solomon's seal — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • tertturotkokielo — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Duftsiegel — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • toppkonvall — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Майник кистистый — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Agongosiwijiibik (Ginebigwashk, Agongosimizh, Agongosiminan) — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • smilacine à grappes — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • vipprams — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • 假黃精 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • 假黄精 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Almindelig skyggeblomst — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Майник кистевидный — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • ᎤᏗᎵᏍᏗ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Pluma-de-salomão — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Falso-selo-de-salomão — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Selo-de-salomão-do-pacífico — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Falso-lírio-emplumado-do-vale — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Smilacina hroznovitá — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Trackle-berries — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • Majówka groniasta — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • tôňovka strapcovitá — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • xəxq’əléełp — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.
  • q̓icnéllp — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 51062; Maianthemum racemosum.

General information

Scientific name: Smilacina racemosa
Accepted name (Kew): Maianthemum racemosum View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asparagaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Smilacina (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: False spikenard, False solomon’s seal
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.46–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Clumping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Fruit: can be eaten raw, cooked, or processed into jellies and molasses. Although the fruits are smaller than peas, the plant produces many of them, making them easy to harvest. They have a delicious bittersweet flavor and are packed with vitamins. The fruit is sometimes used to prevent scurvy. An excess of raw fruit can have a laxative effect, especially if your body is not accustomed to it, so be cautious. This effect largely disappears if you cook the fruit. Young leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. The young shoots that appear in the spring can be cooked and serve as a substitute for asparagus. The root of the plant can be eaten boiled, but it must first be soaked in alkaline water to remove the unpleasant taste. Afterward, it can be eaten like potatoes or pickled.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf., name ID 288321, row 1163305; Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link, name ID 281247, row 1163254
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1145762; name ID 287301; Smilacina Desf.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Smilacina racemosa

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2465375, ID 6YS97: Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. (synonym). Accepted target: Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link, ID 72TB7, line 2510515.

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Maianthemum racemosum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .