Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the valley)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.25m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Convallaria majalis
Other names
Lily of the valley, Conval lily, Word lily, Mayflower, Mugget, Liriconfancy, May bells, May lily, Our lady's tears, Lady's tears
Genus
Convallaria Convallaria
Species
C. majalis - C. majalis is a vigorous, spreading, rhizomatous perennial with paired, elliptic to narrowly ovate, dark green leaves and, from late spring to early summer, upright, leafless stems bear erect to arching racemes of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers followed by red fruit.
Convallaria majalis is: Deciduous
Fragrance
The flowers are scented
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect flower stem, Spreading
Toxicity
Highly toxic if eaten.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
White in Spring
Foliage
Green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Leaf spot Leaf spot
General care
Pruning
If desired, remove faded or dead foliage in autumn.
Propagation
Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame when ripe. Remove flesh from seed before sowing. Generally, seeds are slow to germinate and seedlings are slow to grow. Best method of propagation is division.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the valley) will reach a height of 0.25m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Underplanting
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, humus-rich moist soil in full or part shade. Mulch with leaf mould in autumn.
Soil type
Loamy, Clay
Soil drainage
Moisture-retentive, Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Convallaria majalis
Other names
Lily of the valley, Conval lily, Word lily, Mayflower, Mugget, Liriconfancy, May bells, May lily, Our lady's tears, Lady's tears
Genus
Convallaria Convallaria
Species
C. majalis - C. majalis is a vigorous, spreading, rhizomatous perennial with paired, elliptic to narrowly ovate, dark green leaves and, from late spring to early summer, upright, leafless stems bear erect to arching racemes of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers followed by red fruit.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
The flowers are scented
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect flower stem, Spreading
Toxicity
Highly toxic if eaten.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White in Spring
Foliage
Green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
If desired, remove faded or dead foliage in autumn.
Propagation
Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame when ripe. Remove flesh from seed before sowing. Generally, seeds are slow to germinate and seedlings are slow to grow. Best method of propagation is division.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the valley) will reach a height of 0.25m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Underplanting
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, humus-rich moist soil in full or part shade. Mulch with leaf mould in autumn.
Soil type
Loamy, Clay
Soil drainage
Moisture-retentive, Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3, Zone 2
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Clay | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moisture-retentive, Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
M&G Investments, the title sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, has commissioned designer Andy Sturgeon to create The M&G Garden for 2019’s Show. read more
By Kate Gould Gardens. A lush green split level garden provides a peaceful, interactive and uplifting space where life-limited children with complex needs, their families, friends and carers can come… read more
An APLD Gold Award winning front garden by North Carolina, USA landscape designer Mardi Letson. read more
“There is nothing better than seeing a totally overgrown, wild and unruly garden that has the potential of being beautiful” - my thoughts when I first saw our garden ten years ago ...… read more
By garden designer Faith Ramsay. I am surprised that I have become a garden designer, as I came from a family without a green thumb between them. I always loved plants and flowers as a child, but I… read more
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Convallaria majalis
Perfume from flowers
There is 1 active discussion about Convallaria majalis (Lily of the valley)
View all discussions