Lily of the Valley

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Lily of the valley


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: perennial
Origin: Europe
Poisonous: all parts
Cultivation
Exposure: part/full shade"part/full shade" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: medium"medium" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: flowers, fragrance, naturalizes, invasive
Sunset Zones: 1-7, 14-20, 31-45, indoors
Scientific Names

Ruscaceae >

Convallaria >

majalis >


Graceful groundcover growing 6in or a little more high, with creeping rhizomes. Arching stems bloom for 2 or 3 weeks in the spring, with nodding, nicely scented flowers shaped like little white bells. The attractive broad green leaves are deciduous, and the plants produce red berries in the autumn. They and the rest of the plant are poisonous. Some cultivars have variegated (with cream) foliage, double blooms, or pink blooms. Good ground cover for places with light to medium shade, but where well adapted can become invasive as it naturalizes.

Cultivation

Lily of the valley calendar?
January:
February:
March:
April: transplant
May: flowering
June:
July:
August: sow
September: division
October: division
November:
December:
Notes:

Soil should be damp, rich and leafy. Apply thick leaf mold mulch in the fall for great spring flowers and health. Pips (single rhizomes) and plants should be planted in the yard before soil freezes. Place plants 1-2 feet apart, and pips 4-5in apart.

Propagation

Remove flesh from ripe seeds and sow in cold frame. Rhizomes can be divided in the fall. A 6 inch rhizome can be divided into about 6 new plants. Keep young plants moist, preferably with mulch.

Pests and diseases

Botrytis can be a small problem, though not usually something to be concerned with.

Species

There are three subspecies that have sometimes been separated out as distinct species by a few botanists.

  • Convallaria majalis var. keiskei - from China and Japan with red fruit and bowl shaped flowers
  • Convallaria majalis var. majalis - from Eurasia with white midribs on the flowers.
  • Convallaria majalis var. montana - from the USA with green tinted midribs on the flowers.

Gallery

References

External links