It is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia,[1][2][3][4] and may be terrestrial, aquatic or epiphytic.

[4] It is characterized by simple, unbranched stems that are upright, leaning or hanging down and have 2–17 foliage leaves.

Flowers are spreading, cup-shaped or bell-shaped and usually white, but lavender to red or green in some species.

[4] Maianthemum paludicola has an unusual woody, upright sympodial rhizome set above ground.

Flowering/fruiting shoots are attached to the rhizome by a discreet internode, are short-lived and wither at the end of the growing season.

[6] A few species such as Maianthemum canadense and Maianthemum dilatatum also have a vegetative phase, producing a solitary leaf on sterile shoots; plants may continue in this vegetative phase for up to six years.

[6] Leaf edges may be flat or wavy (undulate) and sometimes have small, outward-pointing teeth.

The tepals in most species are free (not fused), all of a similar size and flowers are spreading to cup-shaped.

Some Asian species such as Maianthemum henryi have bell-shaped (campanulate) flowers with partially fused tepals.

The genus has also been placed in the former family Convallariaceae, and resembles the closely related Polygonatum, hence the common name "false Solomon's seal".

[8] The genus is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia,[1][2][3][4] The majority of species are spring-flowering forest herbs, requiring shaded, moist conditions and cool temperatures.

Others such as Maianthemum stellatum grow in diverse habitats from sand dunes to forest under-stories.

[4] The species that are forest herbs generally begin growth in early spring, with leaves expanding before the tree canopy fully develops.