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Harvest 2025: Over 75 New Species Coming Soon!


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The new species will be revealed and made available as soon as their conditionning and packaging are completed.

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Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower
Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower
Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower
Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower
Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower
On sale

Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower

Maianthemum canadense

$5.00
( / )
Format

Seeds per gram:

Harvest year: 2025

Origin: Québec

Categories: Groundcover, Native, Nectar-rich, Deer resistant, Woodland, Perennial

Native range: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, PE, NS, NL, YT, NT

For successful seedlings,
see the growing notes at the bottom of the page!

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), also known as Canada beadruby, is a small native perennial plant found in the shaded forests and acidic soils of North America. It typically grows between 5 and 10 cm tall and is distinguished by its heart-shaped leaves, bright green and often veined. In the spring, it produces delicate clusters of small star-shaped white flowers atop short stems, which turn into reddish berries by the end of summer. This plant is ideal for shaded gardens and woodland plantings.

Sociability index: 4 → Indicates the plant’s behaviour in space and its interactions with other plants.

Ecological Role
Canada mayflower plays an important role in forest ecosystems, providing a food source for some small mammals and birds that consume its berries. As a ground cover plant, it helps stabilize forest soils and prevent erosion. In naturalistic gardens, it attracts various pollinating insects during its bloom and adds a natural touch to the forest floor cover.

Akène cannot assume any responsibility for the use of plants for therapeutic purposes. Always seek advice from a professional before using a medicinal or edible plant.

Growing Notes | Stratified Seeds - Canada Mayflower

Upon receipt, it is important to place the envelope containing the Canada mayflower seeds in the refrigerator.

Canada mayflower seeds require a 90-day cold stratification period to ensure germination.

The seeds offered by Akène are sold in a sealed bag containing moist vermiculite. The cold stratification period began in mid-September. The following schedule is recommended to complete the dormancy cycle:

Mid-December: The seeds are ready to start as indoor seedlings. If outdoor sowing is preferred, the seeds can remain in the refrigerator longer until it is time to start. It is advisable to check the seed bag occasionally, as some may begin to germinate. If this happens, they should be started indoors.

Sowing: Sow the seeds about 3 mm deep in a well-drained substrate rich in organic matter. Keep the substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Germination generally occurs after 2 to 4 weeks.

Canada mayflower grows well in cool to moist, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It thrives in part to full shade, forming dense mats of foliage in woodlands, mixed forests, and damp ravines.

Seeds per packet: 25

Family: Liliaceae

Scientific name: Maianthemum canadense

Life cycle: Perennial

Hardiness zone: 2

Soil type: Tous types

Soil moisture level: Dry to humid

Soil - additional attributes: Tolerates acidic soils.

Light: Part shade, shade

Blooming: May to June

Spacing: 15 cm

Height: 10 cm

Deer resistance: Moderate to high

Stratification: 2 x 60 days

Scarification: No

Germination time: 14 to 28 days

Sowing depth: 10 mm