Convallaria majalis - Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley is one of the most well known scented plants by all gardeners and even those who say they are not gardeners. Belonging to the Lily family it is renown for its beautiful scent and is often despised because it will spread everywhere in the garden if it can. Today botanists have place C. majalis in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. It is a native of inland Europe. Its habitats range from dry, shady, deciduous forests to the limestone plateaus of UK. It therefore tolerates a wide range of conditions. Sweden chose it as their National emblem in 1882.
It is an excellent plant for woodlands ground cover or as a low ground cover under trees or shrubs. It enjoys moist, well drained rich soil in a shaded environment and likes the cold which encourages it to flower very well after a long cold hard winter.
The most common species is C. majalis which in each spring produces a single thick oblong leaf protruding from the ground from underground rhizomes. The flowering crowns provide wonderful long racemes of dainty round bell shaped flowers which are flared at the tips of the fused petals. These racemes last well in water providing their delicate perfume for many days. In several countries the flowering crowns are grown in glasshouses and forced to flower early or late to provide flowers to the market over a longer period of time.
Lily of the Valley can become crowded over time and flowering will deteriorate. If that happens lift the crowns and replant some of them in replenished soil. Use other crowns to start a new colony or give them away to a friend.
While there are several supposedly larger varieties in the world but here in NZ the common species does very well and provides good flowers. There is a pink variety C. majalis ‘Rosea’ which is slow growing and has smaller lilac pink flowers but it will not succeed the beautiful white variety. There is also a variegated variety C majalis ‘Variegata’ which has variegated edges to the leaves.
On the Pinterest page below are some other varieties.
C. majalis 'Albostricta" with variegated stripes.
C. majalis 'Prolificans' a double flowered form.
C. majalis 'Flore pleno' double flowers.
C. majalis ' Hardwick Hall' larger leaves.
C. majalis 'Potsdam Stripe' which looks similar to C. majalis 'Albostricta'
More photos are on my Pinterest page Convalleria majalis
You might like to visit Wikipedia Convallaria majalis
It is an excellent plant for woodlands ground cover or as a low ground cover under trees or shrubs. It enjoys moist, well drained rich soil in a shaded environment and likes the cold which encourages it to flower very well after a long cold hard winter.
The most common species is C. majalis which in each spring produces a single thick oblong leaf protruding from the ground from underground rhizomes. The flowering crowns provide wonderful long racemes of dainty round bell shaped flowers which are flared at the tips of the fused petals. These racemes last well in water providing their delicate perfume for many days. In several countries the flowering crowns are grown in glasshouses and forced to flower early or late to provide flowers to the market over a longer period of time.
Lily of the Valley can become crowded over time and flowering will deteriorate. If that happens lift the crowns and replant some of them in replenished soil. Use other crowns to start a new colony or give them away to a friend.
While there are several supposedly larger varieties in the world but here in NZ the common species does very well and provides good flowers. There is a pink variety C. majalis ‘Rosea’ which is slow growing and has smaller lilac pink flowers but it will not succeed the beautiful white variety. There is also a variegated variety C majalis ‘Variegata’ which has variegated edges to the leaves.
On the Pinterest page below are some other varieties.
C. majalis 'Albostricta" with variegated stripes.
C. majalis 'Prolificans' a double flowered form.
C. majalis 'Flore pleno' double flowers.
C. majalis ' Hardwick Hall' larger leaves.
C. majalis 'Potsdam Stripe' which looks similar to C. majalis 'Albostricta'
More photos are on my Pinterest page Convalleria majalis
You might like to visit Wikipedia Convallaria majalis