False Lily-Of-The-Valley Berries

Day 363: The berries of False Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum) are attractive in a native-plant garden, especially in the early stages of ripening when they are creamy white mottled with dark red. While not considered toxic to humans unless consumed in large quantities, these small fruits are an important food source for ground-foraging birds such as grouse as well as for small mammals. Humans find them relatively unpalatable in any event, although they were used medicinally by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The plant can monopolize its space under ideal circumstances where shaded and moisture meet its requirements, but is not difficult to keep within bounds or to thin to manageable proportions. In spring, it bears a raceme of small white flowers.