Lily Of The Valley

(Convallaria majalis)

Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria majalis)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Convallaria majalis, commonly known as Lily Of The Valley, is a deciduous perennial herb native to cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe. It thrives in the understory of deciduous forests, where it forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes. This plant typically reaches a height of 0.8 feet and a width of 0.5-1 feet. The foliage is a rich green, and in late spring, it bears a profusion of highly fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinged with pink, each 5–10 mm in diameter. The flowers are showy and often used in wedding bouquets and perfumery.

Lily Of The Valley is valued for its sweetly scented flowers and its ability to spread as a ground cover in shady areas, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as an underplanting for larger shrubs. It prefers cool summers and grows well in silty or sandy soils that are acid to moderately alkaline, with a good supply of humus. The plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental qualities. It requires part shade to full shade, consistent moisture, and soils with medium to slow drainage. While it is low maintenance, gardeners should be aware that all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested. Additionally, its capacity to spread via rhizomes can make it invasive outside its native range, and it may outcompete native flora in some regions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.8-1 feet
  • Width: 0.5-1 feet
  • Growth Rate: Slow
  • Flower Color: White
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fragrant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe, understory of deciduous forests

Other Names

Common Names: Lily-Of-The-Valley , May Bells , Our Lady’s Tears , Mary’s Tears , Liljekonval , Maiglöckchen , Muguet , Muguet Commun , Muguet De Mai , Lelietje-Van-Dalen

Scientific Names: Convallaria majalis , Lilium convallium , Convallaria majalis var. rosea , Convallaria transcaucasica , Convallaria majalis var. picta , Convallaria majalis var. transcaucasica , Convallaria bracteata , Convallaria majalis f. latior , Convallaria latifolia , Convallaria majalis var. rubra

GBIF Accepted Name: Convallaria majalis L.