Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)

Convallaria spp.

lilies of the valley

Asparagaceae

Temperate Northern Hemisphere - Europe, Asia, and eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Fragrant (strong)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 2–8

Overview

Convallaria spp. is a genus of one to three rhizomatous perennials in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), grown for the lily of the valley, C. majalis. Spreading by underground stems, the plants form dense colonies of paired, broad, lance-shaped leaves 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long that rise 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall. In mid to late spring an arching one-sided raceme bears six to fifteen nodding, bell-shaped white flowers about 0.25-0.4 inch (6-10 mm) wide, carrying a sweet, far-reaching fragrance long used in perfume. Small red-orange berries follow in late summer. Convallaria spp. grows in cool, moist, shaded woodland soil and spreads steadily, forming a weed-suppressing groundcover that can become invasive and crowd out smaller plants. Every part of the plant is highly toxic; the leaves, flowers, and berries contain cardiac glycosides that disrupt the heartbeat if eaten. The foliage yellows and dies down by late summer, leaving bare ground until spring.

Native Range

Convallaria spp. is native to cool temperate woodlands across Europe and Asia, with a closely related form (C. majuscula) in the mountains of eastern North America. It has naturalized in parts of North America from garden plantings.

Suggested Uses

Used as a fragrant deciduous groundcover under trees and shrubs and along shaded north-facing borders, spaced 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart. The cut stems are grown for small fragrant posies. Because it spreads strongly, it is placed where its running habit is wanted or contained.

How to Identify

Recognized by paired, upright, broad lance-shaped leaves and a slender arching stem of nodding, bell-shaped white flowers with six small recurved lobes, carrying a strong sweet scent in spring. Round red-orange berries appear later. The fused white bells and paired leaves distinguish Convallaria spp. from look-alike wild garlic, which smells of onion.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Lily of the valley flowers for two to three weeks in mid to late spring, usually April to June depending on climate. The nodding white bells open along one side of an arching stem. The strong sweet fragrance is the most noticeable feature of the plant in bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years to establish and spread

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Convallaria spp. in part to full shade in cool, moist, humus-rich soil with a pH around 5.0-7.0. Plant rhizomes (pips) in autumn, setting them just below the surface 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart, and mulch with leaf mould. The plants spread by underground rhizomes and can travel well beyond their planting, so a buried barrier or a confined bed limits their reach. Water during dry spells, as drought forces early dormancy. A topdressing of compost in autumn keeps colonies vigorous. All parts are highly toxic if eaten, and the berries are removed where children or pets have access.

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed. Yellowing foliage is left to die down naturally, then cleared in late summer or autumn. Spent flower stems and berries are removed to limit self-seeding and to keep the toxic fruit out of reach.