Planting lilies of the valley: location & procedure

Lily of the valley is an easy-care perennial for shady places. Here you can find out everything about the flowering period, the location and care.

During the high flowering period in May, lilies of the valley (Convallaria majalis) their innocent white flowers mostly on 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, that of the only species of the genus Convallaria helps 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 properties

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
• Trivial names: Marienglöckchen, Maieriesli
• Plant Family: Asparagus (Asparagaceae)
• Distribution area: Europe, North America
• Age: Perennial plant
• Location: shade/partial shade
• Height: 15-30cm
• Flowers: bells/clusters in white; fragrant
• Leaves: Usually 2-3 to three large, dark green leaves per plant
• Fruits: Red berries
• Outlasting Organ: Underground rhizomes
• Properties: Hardy; poisonous

Lily of the valley does not offer nectar, but there is a juicy tissue on the ovary that can be drilled into and thus serves primarily as food for bees - no only children sharing not.

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. Lilies of the valley are now also widespread in North America, but they were naturalized 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 heyday?

Lily of the valley shows its grape-like white inflorescences not only in May. 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 lilies of the valley: what should be considered?

Since lilies of the valley are protected in nature, a particularly beautiful specimen cannot simply be dug up in the forest and planted again 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 also want some of the white bells.

Notice: 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 at the best plants?

Plant the rhizomes of the lily of the valley in the fall or spring at your chosen spot. Early lilies of the valley in pots are planted out after flowering.

Plant lilies of the valley: the correct location

Lily of the valley are easy garden dwellers to please:

• Location: partial shade to shade
• Soil: Slightly moist; nutritious; sandy to loamy
• Soil pH: Alkaline to slightly acidic

Lily of the valley also likes 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 like hyacinth (Hyacinthus) or primrose (Primula), the plants set beautiful accents. In addition, lilies of the valley are said to affect the growth of shrubs such as witch hazel (witch hazel), forsythia (Forsythia × intermediate) or lilac (Syringa) have a promoting effect.

Lily of the valley: How to plant properly

In the garden or in pots, the small early bloomers sweeten spring with their scent 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 compost under the excavated soil
• Place the rhizomes in the planting hole with the eyes facing up
• Fill the planting hole with a soil-compost mix and press down lightly
• Water well

Sufficient watering is required until the plants have established themselves. 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 regularly pierce the surrounding soil with a spade to destroy the rhizomes.

Grow lilies of the valley in pots yourself

Lily of the valley is not just something 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 preferring the plants indoors in the pot.

lily of the valley in the pot: how does it work?

What many people don't know is that lilies 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. 12cm diameter
• Fill pot with substrate
• Planting depth: 10 cm
• Carefully remove any soil residue from the roots
• Place a 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 the pot: the right substrate

Humus garden soil, which is 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.

Skillfully multiply lilies of the valley yourself

Lily of the valley multiplies incredibly quickly on its own. They spread underground via rhizomes and form 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 soil from rhizomes
• Cut off pieces of root about 10 cm long
• Plant parts individually at the desired location

The flowers in 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.

Propagate lilies of the valley by seeds

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. In addition, the plants grown from seed flower later.

Caring for lilies of the valley properly: tips from professionals

Lily of the valley is not just symbolic 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 proper care in the garden

In the garden, without lifting a finger, lilies of the valley spread into dense carpets of white flowers, which in May give the garden an innocent, playful glow. Here’s 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, when planting, a primarily organic organic fertilizer like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer deployed. After the establishment at the new location, watering is only carried out after long periods of drought. Because the floor may dry out, but not through.

lily of the valley properly cared for in the 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.

• Fertilizer: Repot into compost-enriched soil every two years
• Watering: the substrate should always be moist; Avoid waterlogging
• Pruning: Remove inflorescences after flowering
• November: winter protection; basement or windowsill

Don't place your lily of the valley in a too warm location - this will shorten the flowering time. 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 is overwintered in the cellar.

Are lilies of the valley actually poisonous?

Already in the 15th In the 19th century, lily of the valley was dried and processed into medicine because of its heart-strengthening properties and its effect against dizziness and eye diseases. 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. More about the poisonous lily of the valley you'll find here.

Distinguish lily of the valley from wild garlic

Although 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 the wild garlic (Allium ursinum), which between March and April turns a walk through local forests into garlic-heavy aromatherapy. The first difference of 13 differences between wild garlic, lily of the valley and autumn crocusthat every collector should know.

which Differences between wild garlic, lily of the valley and autumn crocus You can also find out how to tell the plants apart here.