Species library · Plants & herbs

False Lily of the Valley: poisonous

Maianthemum bifolium

☠ Poisonous. Do not eat.What to do if poisoning is suspected

False Lily of the Valley is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. This page helps you identify it and tell it apart from similar species. It is not a foraging guide. When in doubt, have a find identified by an expert.

If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away. If someone has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is unconscious, call emergency services. Don't wait for symptoms: with some poisonings they only start hours later. Keep any leftovers of the find, they help identify it.

Usually seen from January to December in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland.

☠ Poisonous
False Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum bifolium)

Photo: (c) Miika Silfverberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · iNaturalist

When False Lily of the Valley appears

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset.

Where it grows

False Lily of the Valley is usually found in Woodland.

Look up False Lily of the Valley in the app

In the Forage app, False Lily of the Valley has a full field guide entry with more photos, key features and the species it can be confused with.

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False Lily of the Valley: common questions

Is False Lily of the Valley poisonous?

Yes. False Lily of the Valley is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. Do not eat it. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away, or emergency services if it is life-threatening.

When does False Lily of the Valley appear?

False Lily of the Valley usually appears from January to December in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather.

Where does False Lily of the Valley grow?

False Lily of the Valley is usually found in Woodland.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits