PERENNIALS > LILY - OF - THE - VALLEY
IN THIS GUIDE
LILY OF THE VALLEY GUIDES
Container GrowingGrowing From SeedPruning
Providing it ’s introduced in the right way of life , pretty Lily of the vale ( Convallaria majalis ) can make an attractive and fragrant addition to your garden .
Sometimes called the ‘ efflorescence of fairies ’ , Lily of the valley is a woodland anthesis plant , characterised by its bell - mold , blanched pendant efflorescence of 5–10 mm in diameter , which seem in springtime – as well as its shining green , lance - mold leaves .
It also bears fruit – orangey - blood-red berries which produce to around 5 millimetre in diameter .
Lily of the valley is a beautiful and odorous - smelling flush ( the heady , flowered scent is a popular choice for perfumes ) and should n’t cause any problems if treat aright .
Overview
PreferredFull Shade / Partial Shade
ExposureSheltered
Height0.1 – 0.5 metre
Spread0.1 – 0.5 M
Bloom TimeJune – July
PreferredClay , Loam
MoistureMoist but well enfeeble or poorly drain
pHAny
There are 3 metal money of Lily of the valley – majalis , keiskeiandmontana – originating from Eurasia , Japan and China , and the United States respectively ( although the aboriginal position of this last one is questionable).1Convallaria majalis ( European lily - of - the - vale ) . ( n.d . ) . Native Plant Trust : Go phytology . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/convallaria/majalis/
Despite the name , Lily of the vale is actually a extremity of the Asparagaceae syndicate – otherwise know as asparagus.2Convallaria majalis . ( n.d . ) . North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/convallaria-majalis/
Lily of the vale lie in of two basal foliage with a florescence stalk in the heart , which produces hanging strands of up to 15 flowers each .
The flower are normally white but can also seldom be pink . Lily of the vale grows to a maximum of around 20 centimetre tall .
In its raw home ground , Lily of the valley will bloom in early spring for 3–4 calendar week – although this may begin later during a particularly cold twelvemonth or mood .
The plant is repeated , meaning it lives more than two years , and in cool climates , the leaves will stay twelvemonth - pear-shaped ( in blistering atmospheric condition they tend to die off ) .
Other name you may know Lily of the valley as include Muguet , May bells , May lily , Mary ’s tears and Our Lady ’s tears .
observe that a single Lily of the valley plant will spread quickly if allowed to do so ( to the point of invasiveness ) by mold underground networks of rhizomes.3lily of the valley : Convallaria majalis ( Liliales : Liliaceae ) . ( n.d . ) . Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=5375
The individual pip then break the surface and grow into leafy shoot in spring , whilst rest connect to the surround shoots underground – creating a colony of duplicate plants .
Cloned Lily of the valley plants are sterile and wo n’t grow berry – multiple unique plants are ask to pollinate the plant and produce the ejaculate - filled Charles Edward Berry .
Habitat & Growing Conditions
Lily of the vale is native to the Northern Hemisphere , in particular , Europe and Asia.4Convallaria majalis . ( n.d.-b ) . Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c250
It privilege a cooler , temperate mood , and environments such as forest and woodland , where the tight - cockle trees allow for it with wad of shade , whilst still allowing a little sunlight through .
This perennial plant will not prosper in twelvemonth - round hot climates , or in arena with inadequate refinement .
It will , however , cope all right in the summer of a temperate climate , when its leaves by nature wilt and die off after the spring flowering flow .
The soil preference of Lily of the vale is a moist , sandy territory with a slimly alkaline pH.
It also like a peck of space , with room to expand outwards whilst growing .
This is a very tight - distribute works ; the underground web of rhizomes will keep dilate and shooting new root until it meets with some sort of roadblock .
For this reason , you often see large blankets of Lily of the valley cover forest floors and surrounding the theme of trees in timber .
As they need moist soil with practiced drain , the best position for Lily of the valley is midway down a slope or hillside , where they will benefit from lashings of body of water foot race - off , whilst not ride in boggy ground or stagnant water .
How To Grow Lily Of The Valley
These are the steps I fall out to successfully grow Lily of the valley in my garden :
check that to utilize gloves to prevent irritation .
If successful you should see the first shoots of your plant commence to emerge in early spring .
Plant Care
Lily of the vale thrive best in area with temperate climates and cool winter .
Being a perennial plant life , it ’s hardy and adaptable , which makes it easy to care for – and given that the UK is one of its native habitats , it ’s well - suit to life outside in your garden .
To help it grow even more successfully , seek to choose a shady spot to plant it , such as by a fence or under some trees , to repeat its born environment .
Ideally , it should get a few hours of raw Inner Light in the early dawn , before spending the rest of the day in the tone .
If you plant it in a place with too much sun , it belike wo n’t flower .
During summer , when the temperature gets too raging , your Lily of the valley will jump to wilt and the leaf will go crispy .
This is a normal part of your plant ’s lifecycle – when this take place , prune the crispy depart , allow for the levelheaded green unity .
Make certain to monitor the wet stage in the stain and keep it well - water in the event of a juiceless spell ( avoiding the leaves to prevent fungus ) .
You will probably need to water the grime well during sunny catamenia and summer .
In damage of feeding , it does n’t command much – propose to supply a 2 - column inch bed of organic compost per year .
Common Problems
Lily of the valley is naturally resistant to most pestis , but there are some mintage which are able ( and very unforced ) to use up the plant , include slugs , leaf beetles and some moth and butterfly larvae .
Keep an eye out for bugs such as these munching on your works .
Lily of the vale can be vulnerable to fungus , due to its preference for dampish environment .
Look out for yellow on the farewell , chocolate-brown spots and discoloured veins .
To attempt to preclude this , make certain that when you water the stain , you do n’t get any additional water on the leaves , and keep a decorous fungicide handy , just in case .
Make certain your Lily of the vale has enough space to grow – as much as you require it to .
As mention above , I do find that healthy Lily of the vale can spread very quickly , and you will need to define bounds if you need to restrict its get area .
“ The characteristic bedcover of Lily of the Valley make it idealistic if you need it to colonise an area , but elusive if you either do n’t desire it to diffuse into adjacent area or you want it to stay in one area , ” share Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ This make contain it with a barrier or constant sectionalization and removal a must .
“ I run to engraft it in delimitation that are naturally contain by hard barriers where it tend to transmigrate the edges .
“ Every year I just divide and replant to redistribute it back to its starting seat . ”
you’re able to do this with garden edging or root barriers , available from garden centres . I have had a lot of success using root barrier for rhizomatous plantslike bambooandConvallaria majalis .
If you prefer , you could also grow Lily of the valley in a large container or shallow pot , fill up with a good quality potting mixture and organic fertilizer , and localize on feet to check sufficient drain .
Growing it in this way will let you to easily control the spread of the plant , as well as the amount of weewee in the stain .
You should still place the pot outdoors , to allow the plant life to benefit from the nerveless air and seasonal changes of its natural home ground .
