Lily-of-the-valley is a beloved garden plant that blooms in the spring. People love it for its delicate bell-shaped flowers and its sweet scent.
The Latin name of this plant is Convallaria majalis. Like most popular plants, it has many common names, such as May Lily, Ladder-to-Heaven and May Bells. It is sometimes called Our Lady's Tears because of the legend that the tears Mary cried at the crucifixion of Jesus turned to flowers when they touched the ground. A different legend says that when Saint Leonard of Noblac battled a dragon, drops of his blood turned into Lily-of-the-Valley.
Identification
Lily-of-the-Valley is a perennial plant that dies back to the ground every winter. Each plant has short stems with one or two leaves. The leaves can be 4 to 10 inches long. Overall plant height is usually about 6 inches.
Lily-of-the-Valley has small white flowers. Sometimes the flowers are pink. When fertilized, the plant produces small red-orange berries. Each berry contains a few pale brown seeds.
The plant spreads by rhizomes. It forms large colonies when growing conditions are favorable.
The plant is native to woodlands in the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is common in Asia and Europe. There is some disagreement about the presence of a native population in North America (Convallaria majalis var. montana).
Types
Growers have developed several cultivars: Rosea has pink flowers; Fortin's Giant is taller than the species, growing to about 12 inches; Variegata has mottled leaves; Albostriata has thin white stripes on the leaves; Aureovariegata has thin yellow stripes on the leaves.
Many botanists identify three natural varieties of Lily-of-the-Valley. Convallaria majalis var. majalis comes from Eurasia and can be recognized by the white midribs on the flowers. C. majalis var. montana has green tinted midribs and is from the United States. C. majalis var. keiskei has bowl-shaped flowers and red berries, and is native to China and Japan.
Considerations
Lily-of-the-Valley is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. It usually grows in shade, but in cooler areas it can be grown in full sun. It can be grown in a variety of soils and prefers moist, well-drained conditions. Under dry conditions, it often dies back after blooming. It spreads by underground rhizomes.
Function
Lily-of-the-Valley is usually grown as a ground cover in shady areas. Because it forms colonies, it is not the best choice for flowerbeds. The blooms make beautiful cut flowers.
It is an excellent choice for growing in pots and urns. It can also be forced to bloom indoors all winter.
Lily-of-the-Valley is commercially grown for use in perfumes. A tincture of this plant has been used in herbal medicine as a heart stimulant and a diuretic.
Warning
Lily-of-the-Valley is very poisonous. Be sure that small children and pets do not nibble any part of the plant.
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