Solomon's plume (Maianthemum racemosum) is in the agave and allies family (Asparagaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,942 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Solomon's plume: observations by month (U.S.)
About Solomon's plume
Maianthemum racemosum (treacleberry, feathery false lily of the valley, false Solomon's seal, Solomon's plume or false spikenard; syn. Smilacina racemosa, Vagnera racemosa) is a species of flowering plant native to North America. It is a common, widespread plant known from every US state except Hawaii, and from every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut, as well as from Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Solomon's plume by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 413 | April | Mar–May |
| Vermont | 373 | June | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 363 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 279 | May | Apr–May |
| Washington | 270 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 234 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 201 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 153 | June | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 139 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 135 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 117 | June | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 113 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 109 | June | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 103 | June | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 91 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 90 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 90 | May | Apr–May |
| Maine | 88 | June | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 88 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 54 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 53 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 44 | April | Apr–May |
| West Virginia | 37 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 35 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arkansas | 34 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 34 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 32 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 31 | April | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 29 | June | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 16 | May | May–May |
| South Carolina | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Utah | 15 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 13 | May | May–May |
| Arizona | 12 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 9 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 8 | May | May–May |
| Wyoming | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Mexico | 6 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (agave and allies)
Ithuriel's Spear
Blue Dicks
common star-of-Bethlehem
Chaparral Yucca
Canada mayflower
Desert Lily
Small Camas
Ookow
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Solomon's plume?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Solomon's plume most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Vermont, Oregon.