Lily of the Valley: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Lily of the Valley Flowers

Lily of the valley is a woodland plant with attractive green foliage and tiny, bell-shaped, white or pink flowers. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for lily of the valley in your garden!

About Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley is a low-growing (6 to 12 inches tall), spreading plant that comes up year after year in late spring. The genus Convallaria includes a single species, C. majalis, which is among the most useful ground covers for shade.

Warning: Lily of the valley is known to be a very aggressive spreader. Plant with caution!

Lily of the valley blooms are bell-shaped and appear as a cluster on one side of a leafless stalk and last for about three weeks. The leaves are located at the base of the plant. The delicate white or soft pink flowers are very fragrant.

Planting

When to Plant Lily of the Valley

Plant in the spring or fall.

Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site

Choose a location in the shade or partial shade.
Find a spot where the soil drains well.
Amend the soil with aged manure or compost.
Lily of the Valley can also be planted in a container and placed in a shady spot.

How to Plant Lily of the Valley

Dig a small hole.
Place the rhizome with the pip (pointed bud) in the planting hole about 1/2 inch below soil level.
Spread the roots out around the pip.
Space the rhizomes about 6 inches apart.
Cover with soil.
Water thoroughly.

Growing

How to Care for Lily of the Valley

Side-dress with compost when new growth appears in the spring.
Keep the soil evenly moist.
Don’t let plants dry out.
After blooming don’t remove the foliage.
The plants will have orange inedible berries in the fall and the leaves turn golden.
Mulch with aged manure or compost in late fall.

How to Propagate Lily of the Valley

Divide Lily of the Valley when dormant in the spring or in the fall.
Dig up clumps and separate the rhizomes.
Replant the rhizomes about 6 inches apart.
Water deeply.

How to Grow Lily of the Valley Indoors

Dig up a few plants in the fall.
Plant in a container and bring indoors.
Place the container in a bright spot.
The plants will bloom during the winter months.

Recommended Varieties

Convallaria majalis var. rosea has pink flowers. The flowers are less fragrant than the white varieties.
C. majalis ‘Albostriata’ has white flowers and variegated leaves. The green leaves have creamy- white stripes.
C. majalis ‘Bordeaux’ produces large white flowers on long stalks.
C. majalis ‘Fernwood’s Golden Slippers’ has attractive golden-green leaves in early spring.

Harvesting

Lily of the Valley as Cut Flowers

Pick when 1/4 of the buds are open.
Include some leaves in the bouquet.
Use small vases or containers.
Place the vase in a cool place with medium light.
The flowers will last up to a week.
Change the water every other day.

Wit and Wisdom

Other names for lily of the Valley are May bells, Our Lady’s tears, and Mary’s tears.
Lily of the Valley is not a lily. It belongs to the asparagus family.
All parts of the plant are poisonous.
In the language of flowers the Lily of the Valley symbolizes the return of happiness.
Lily of the Valley is the birth flower for May.
According to folklore, Lily of the Valley is said to protect gardens from evil spirits.

Pests/Diseases

Lily of the Valley is generally healthy and not bothered by many pests.

Insect Pests
Occasional weevil damage to the leaves.

Diseases
Fungal leaf spotting. Remove and destroy affected foliage.

Gardening

Plants

Flowers