May Lily Plant Care
Maianthemum flexuosum (Bertol.) LaFrankie
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Maianthemum flexuosum is a perennial, terrestrial understory herb of cloud forests from southern Mexico to Nicaragua. It has been found at sites from 1300 to 2800 m elevation.
Partial to full shade
At a glance
How do you care for May Lily?
May Lily grows best in partial to full shade.
What Is the May Lily?
May Lily (Maianthemum flexuosum) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Maianthemum genus. May Lily is also known as False Lily of the Valley.
May Lily displays a low-growing, spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . May Lily produces small, white, star-shaped flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the May Lily Need?
May Lily thrives in partial to full shade. Avoid placing May Lily in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial to full shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a May Lily?
Rich, moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for May Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a May Lily?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a May Lily?
May Lily can be propagated through division of rhizomes, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to giant false solomon's seal plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the May Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list May Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the May Lily?
May Lily is susceptible to slugs, snails, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
May Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Maianthemum genus — compare its care with other Maianthemum species on PlantoScan.
Maianthemum is part of the Asparagaceae plant family — browse all Asparagaceae genera and species.
May Lily copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
More Maianthemum Species
Other Maianthemum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Maianthemum flexuosum (Bertol.) LaFrankie, family Asparagaceae (first published in Taxon 35: 588 (1986)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list May Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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