- Lily of the valley: profile and characteristics
- Buying lily of the valley: What should be considered?
- Planting lilies of the valley: When and how to plant correctly?
- Growing lily of the valley in pots yourself
- Propagating lily of the valley yourself
- Proper care for lily of the valley: tips from professionals
- Are lilies of the valley actually poisonous?
- Distinguish between lily of the valley and wild garlic
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Lily of the valley is an easy-care perennial for shady places. Here you can find out everything about the flowering period, location and care.
At the peak of flowering in May, lilies of the valley (Convallaria majalis) usually present their innocent white flowers over large areas. Just in time for Mother's Day, the small bells of the perennials let a song of deep love and purity ring out, which helps the only species of the genus Convallaria to attract the ideal attention. Flowers often say more than words. But lilies of the valley are not only good as a bouquet. In the garden, the early bloomers hardly need any care, can also cope with shady locations and spread all by themselves.
Lily of the valley: profile and characteristics
The lily of the valley is a special feature in itself because it does not share its genus with any other species. Here is a brief overview of the pretty only child:
- Name: Lily of the Valley
- Latin name: Convallaria majalis
- Common names: Marienglöckchen, Maieriesli
- Plant Family: Asparagus (Asparagaceae)
- Area of distribution: Europe, North America
- Age: Perennial Plant
- Location: shade/partial shade
- Height: 15 - 30 cm
- Flowers: bells/clusters in white; fragrant
- Leaves: Usually 2 - 3 three large, dark green leaves per plant
- Fruits: Red Berries
- Permanent Organ: Underground Rhizomes
- Features: Hardy; toxic
Lily of the valley do not provide nectar, but there is a succulent tissue on the ovary that can be drilled into and thus serves as food for bees in particular - so only children do not share.
Lily of the valley: origin and meaning
The lily of the valley is native to almost all of Europe, especially in beech and oak forests, and has penetrated as far as the Caucasus. In southern Europe, the plant is usually only found in mountainous areas. Lily of the valley are now also common in North America, but they becamenaturalized here with human intervention. In the past, important doctors were often portrayed with lilies of the valley, because these are considered a symbol of medicine. The lily of the valley can also be found in Christian symbolism. Here it is a so-called Marian flower, which stands for chaste love, the humility and modesty of Mary. In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley stands for "deep love". The green of the leaves represents hope, the white of the flowers expresses purity.
Lily of the valley: When is flowering time?
It's not just in May that lilies of the valley show their clusters of white inflorescences. The flowering period runs from March to June. During these months, the plant and its flowers give off an intensely sweet smell. A bouquet of wild lilies of the valley is a quick Mother's Day gift, but in many European countries lilies of the valley are now protected and may not be picked.
Buying lily of the valley: What should be considered?
Since lilies of the valley are protected in nature, you can't simply dig up a particularly beautiful specimen in the forest and plant it in your own garden. Visiting a garden center, hardware store or online plant mail order business is therefore mandatory. In April and May the offer is particularly large. Since there is only one species of lily of the valley, the focus of plant selection is on the appearance of the individual specimen. In any case, you should choose a vigorous plant with beautiful dark green leaves. Check the plant for pests. It is best not to take a plant that is already flowering. After all, they want some of the white bells too.
Note: You can also purchase rhizome pieces from Lily of the Valley.
Planting lilies of the valley: When and how to plant correctly?
The delicate grape blossoms form early in the year and enchant anew every year. The little innocent angels among the early bloomers have hardly any demands on the soil or the location.
Lily of the valley: when is the best to plant?
The rhizomes of the lily of the valley are planted in the ground at the place you have chosen in autumn or spring. Early potted lilies of the valley are planted out after flowering.
Planting lily of the valley: The right location
Lily of the valley are easy garden dwellers to please:
- Location: part shade to full shade
- Soil: Slightly damp; nutritious; sandy to loamy
- Soil pH: alkaline to slightly acidic
Lilies of the valley also like shady places. However, if there is not enough sun, the flowers will not bloom. They do not tolerate blazing midday sun well. When choosing the location, consider the toxicity of the lily of the valley. The plants should ideally not be accessible to children or pets. The white flowers are ideal between groups of trees or in shady borders. Especially in combination with other early bloomers such as hyacinth (Hyacinthus) or primrose (Primula), the plants set beautiful accents. Lily of the valley is also said to be beneficial for the growth of shrubs such as witch hazel (Hamamelis), forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia) or Lilac (Syringa) have a stimulating effect.
"Lily of the valley: How to plant correctly?
In the garden or in pots, the little early bloomers sweeten spring with their fragrance and spread the hopeful message of the approaching summer. When planting lilies of the valley, proceed as follows:
- Planting distance: 10 cm (ground covering) - 20 cm
- Planting hole: 10 cm deep
- Mix the compost under the excavated soil
- Place the rhizomes in the planting hole with the eyes facing up
- Fill the planting hole with soil and compost mix and press down gently
- Water well
Until the plants have grown, they must be watered sufficiently. Of course, it makes you happy when the plants in the garden feel so good that they spread. However, lilies of the valley can become a real plague and even crowd out other plants. Therefore, dig in a rhizome barrier or periodically puncture the surrounding soil with a spade to destroy the rhizomes.
Growing lily of the valley in pots yourself
Lily of the valley aren't just for the bed in the garden. In the pot, the graceful early bloomers adorn house entrances or balconies. As spring-like table decorations, they embellish the home domicile. You can even move the flowering of the pretty plants forward by growing them indoors in the pot.
Lily of the valley in a pot: how does it work?
What many people don't know is that lily of the valley can also be planted in pots. This means that the lily of the valley cannot spread unhindered in the garden. In addition, the pre-cultivation of lily of the valley rhizomes is an insider tip.The rhizomes are obtained when dividing older lilies of the valley or can be bought. The root pieces are planted in the pot as early as November. Proceed as follows to enjoy the white flowers in winter:
- Pot: clay pot with drainage hole; approx. 12 cm diameter
- Fill pot with substrate
- Planting depth: 10 cm
- Carefully remove the remains of the soil from the roots
- Put the piece of rhizome in the planting hole
- Cover with substrate until the overwintering buds are still slightly above the ground
- Keep substrate moist
- Location: windowsill
- Temperature: 20 °C
After flowering, the lily of the valley can be planted out or kept in the pot.
Lily of the valley in a pot: the right substrate
Humous garden soil mixed with potting soil and some sand is suitable as a substrate. The substrate should always be moist but never wet. When waterlogged, the rhizomes rot.
Propagating lily of the valley yourself
Lily of the valley self-replicates incredibly quickly. They spread underground via rhizomes, forming large carpets within a few years. If you don't want a carpet of lilies of the valley, but instead divide the rhizomes and plant the new plants in a different spot, proceed as follows:
- June or July: digging up the "mother plant"
- Remove rhizomes from soil
- Cut off pieces of root about 10 cm long
- Plant parts individually at the desired location
The flowers of plants that develop from formed rhizomes start from year two. Alternatively, the lilies of the valley can be divided in autumn and grown in the pot on the windowsill. This allows the lilies of the valley to bloom in winter. After flowering, the plants are planted out.
Propagating Lily of the Valley by seed
You can also propagate lilies of the valley from seeds. After pollination, small spherical berries form, which are bright red when ripe. These berries contain one to five yellow to light brown seeds. These or purchased seeds can be grown to propagate lily of the valley generatively. However, the undertaking is much more complex than dividing the rhizomes. Because lilies of the valley are cold germs and must first be stratified. Also, plants grown from seed will flower later.
Proper care for lily of the valley: tips from professionals
Lily of the valley is not just a symbol of modesty. With the few demands that they make of us as hobby gardeners, they prove that they fully live up to their importance. Nevertheless, there are a few tips so that the early bloomers can spread their charm to the fullest.
Lily of the valley Caring for it properly in the garden
In the garden, without lifting a finger, lilies of the valley spread into dense carpets of white flowers, which in May let the garden shine with an innocent, playful glow. This is how you can support your loved ones a little:
- Fertilization: compost or primarily organic organic fertilizer
- Watering: no longer necessary after growth
- Pruning: remove inflorescences after flowering
Lily of the valley has moderate nutritional requirements. In autumn, mature compost, manure or leaf soil is used for mulching. Alternatively, a primarily organic organic fertilizer such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is applied when planting. After the establishment at the new location, watering is only carried out after long periods of drought. Because the floor must dry out, but not through.
Lily of the valley Caring for it properly in a pot
Even in a pot, lilies of the valley don't exactly scream for attention. However, with the right expert knowledge, there is a lot that can be done about the length of the flowering period.
- Fertilizing: repot every two years in soil enriched with compost
- Watering: the substrate should always be moist; Avoid waterlogging
- Pruning: remove inflorescences after flowering
- November: winter protection; Basement or Windowsill
Do not place your lily of the valley in a too warm location - this will shorten flowering. After flowering, only water enough so that the soil does not dry out completely. In addition, after flowering, the pot moves to a shady, cool place. If the potted lilies of the valley are not indoors, but beautify the balcony and terrace outside, then winter protection is needed from November. Cover the pot thickly with bubble wrap or garden fleece so that the soil in the pot does not freeze completely. Alternatively, the pot with the lilies of the valley can be overwintered in the basement.
Are lilies of the valley actually poisonous?
As early as the 15th century, lily of the valley was dried and used as a medicine because of its heart-strengthening properties and its effect against dizziness and eye diseasesprocessed. The glycosides contained are also used as active ingredients in medicines in conventional medicine. These are found throughout the plant and make the lily of the valley extremely poisonous. Because the glycosides quickly lead to cardiac arrest in excessive doses. You can find out more about the poisonous lily of the valley here.
Distinguish between lily of the valley and wild garlic
Even though the toxicity of lily of the valley isn't exactly a secret, poisoning occurs every year. Because the leaves of lily of the valley are very similar to the leaves of wild garlic (Allium ursinum), which between March and April transforms a walk through local forests into garlic-heavy aromatherapy. The smell is the first of 13 differences between wild garlic, lily of the valley and autumn crocus that every collector should know.
You can find out here which differences between wild garlic, lily of the valley and autumn crocus help you to tell the plants apart.