Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley (Convallária majális) — a species of the genus Convallaria. Traditionally this genus was included in the Liliaceae family or allocated to a separate Convallariaceae family. As of 2011, in most international databases the genus Lily of the Valley (Convallaria) is placed in the Asparagaceae family (Asparagaceae).

The generic name was given by Linnaeus from the Latin — Lilium convallium, meaning lily of the valleys. The English name — Lily of the Valley (or Lily-of-the-Valley) is a literal calque from the Latin. Other Russian names: landyshki, sorochka, molodilo, molodilnik, vinovnik (local common names).

Lily of the Valley is widespread throughout Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, China and North America. It grows in deciduous and pine, as well as mixed forests, on forest edges and glades. It develops especially well in floodplain oak groves on rich neutral soils with good moisture. In undisturbed habitats it spreads widely, forming large carpets.

It is a perennial plant. The underground rhizome is creeping, not thicker than a goose feather; roots are small and numerous. It bears near the top several pale small basal leaves, half-buried in the soil. These are followed by 2 (rarely 3) large, completely entire, broad-lanceolate (or oblong-elliptic) pointed basal leaves, between which at the top of the rhizome is a large bud. From the axil of the low leaf, which envelops both green leaves from below, emerges the flowering stem bearing a raceme of 6—20 flowers, mostly facing in one direction.

a stand of Lily of the Valley

The flowering stem is leafless or bears leaves only below the inflorescence; rarely with filiform leaves. Flowers have a rounded-bell-shaped perianth of white (rarely pale pink) color, with 6 reflexed lobes. The fragrant flowers nod gracefully. Blooms in May — June. The fruit is an orange-red globose berry 6—8 mm in diameter, containing almost spherical seeds. The berries persist on the plant for a long time. Fruiting occurs in June — early July.

ornamental form with pink flowers

Location: undemanding; performs well among shrubs, on glades with some shading; in deep shade it blooms poorly.

Soil: requires well-tilled, organic-rich soil. Drought-tolerant, but on dry soils it becomes smaller. Grows in one place for up to 10 years.

Planting: it is best to prepare the soil in advance, a year before planting or in spring. The cultivated layer of soil should be sufficiently deep (25-30 cm). Lilies of the valley prefer well-drained, light- or medium-clay, moist, cool, slightly acidic soils (pH 5), but also grow well on neutral soils. Strongly acidic soil should be limed in advance (about 200-300 of lime per 1 m2). In addition to lime, add up to 10 kg of manure, humus or peat compost, 100 g of simple superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate per the same m2. In summer it is better to keep the area fallow, preventing weed overgrowth, or grow legumes (peas, beans, broad beans), which should be removed in September leaving the roots in the soil. Before planting, loosen the soil and prepare trenches 15 cm deep.

variegated form

Planting material for Lily of the Valley consists of shoots with a piece of rhizome and a tuft of roots. Depending on age they differ in diameter and bear either a floral bud or only leaf primordia. Approximately, shoots with a diameter greater than 0.6 cm and a rounded tip will flower in the first year, while those with a smaller diameter and a pointed tip will produce only leaves. Shoots are planted to a depth where the roots are not bent and the shoots are covered with soil by 1-2 cm.

Shoots are planted in trenches, in rows. Distance between shoots 8-10 cm, between rows 20-25 cm. Lilies planted this way can be kept in one place for at least 5 years. If the soil is dry, plantings must be thoroughly watered.

Care: it is recommended to mulch Lily of the Valley with well-rotted manure or compost, and to feed with liquid organic and mineral fertilizers (in August). During the summer, water during dry weather. The area occupied by Lily of the Valley should be kept loose and free of weeds. Lily of the Valley is frost-hardy and does not require winter covering.

Propagation: usually by dividing rhizomes, less often by seeds, which when sown in autumn germinate in spring. Young plants are not transplanted for two years. Rhizomes are divided in spring and autumn. In the first year one leaf develops, rarely two. Flowering begins after two years, when three leaves have developed. Areas with Lily plantings are covered on top with a layer of well-rotted manure. It is sufficiently winter-hardy and does not require covering. Widely cultivated since 1525.

All parts of the plant are POISONOUS; exercise caution when cultivating and propagating.

Uses: for ground planting near shrubs, especially popular for cut flowers. For forcing, large-flowered forms are used, most often the Berlin form (S. m. f. berolinensis). Lily of the Valley combines well with anemones, aquilegia, lungwort, and ferns. Many transplant wild Lily of the Valley into gardens, but garden varieties are considerably more showy. Lily of the Valley is not suitable for a flowerbed (these beauties are a bit selfish): it spreads and displaces other plants. Better used as a groundcover. For bouquets the flower stems are pulled out, not cut. Harvest when the flowers are not yet fully open. They should not be placed in a vase together with other flowers; they quickly wilt under the influence of the lilies' scent and their exudates in the water.