Practical
Plants

Maianthemum dilatatum

Wild Lily Of The Valley

a perennial member of the Maianthemum genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.2 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or dried for later use[2][3]. The fruits are about the size of small peas and are produced in terminal clusters on the plants, they are not regarded very highly[6]. North American Indian children would eat the raw unripe green berries straight from the plant[6]. Adults would usually harvest the green berries and then store them in water until they turned red and were soft[6]. Alternatively they would dry the green berries and then boil them for a few minutes[6]. Young leaves - cooked[3].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A poultice made of the whole or the mashed leaves has been applied to boils, burns, cuts and wounds[7]. The fruit has been used as a good medicine in the treatment of tuberculosis[7]. The root has been chewed in order to correct sterility[7]. (This probably means to restore fertility[K]) An infusion of the pounded roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes, whilst the chewed roots have been used as a poultice on the eyes[7].

Product or use
Infertility
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
TB

Environment

Range
N. America.
Habitat
Shaded or moist streambanks and open to dense woods if they are moist[8], in humus-rich slightly acid soils[5] to 1000 metres[8].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown quite thinly it as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring. Stored seed should be sown in late winter in a cold frame, it might take 18 months to germinate. Allow the seedlings to grow on in the pot for their first year, giving liquid feeds as necessary to ensure that they do not go hungry. Divide the plants into individual pots once they have died down in late summer. Grow them on in pots for another year or more until large enough to plant out[K]. Division as new growth commences in the spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a cool shady moist but not wet position[1][4]. Plants tolerate warm summers only if the soil remains moist[5]. A mat forming plant, it can be invasive in good conditions[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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