General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture soils in part shade to full shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers moist, organically rich ones. Tolerates some drought. In optimum growing conditions, lily-of-the-valley spreads aggressively by creeping rhizomes, almost to the point of being weedy, but is generally more restrained in hot summer climates. This is a cool weather perennial that performs poorly south of USDA Zone 7 where the summers are too hot. Plants are easily divided in spring to propagate. These are long-lived plants that naturalize easily in woodland areas and may be left undisturbed for many years. Flowering may decrease over time, however, at which point dividing the plants may become necessary.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Botanical variety rosea is a light pink-flowered form of lily-of-the-valley (see C250). It is a stemless, rhizomatous perennial that forms a dense, indefinitely-spreading ground cover to 6-8" tall. Lanceolate-ovate to elliptic, parallel-veined leaves (to 8" long) rise from the ground in groups of 2-3. In spring, an erect to slightly arching flowering stem rises from the center of the leaf clump bearing a one-sided raceme of sweetly fragrant, nodding, bell-shaped, pink flowers. Flowers are sometimes followed by orange-red berries which are poisonous. Popular fresh cut flower.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Can spread aggressively. Foliage declines in hot summers.
Uses:
Ground cover for shady areas. Naturalize in woodland gardens. Shady borders. North-facing foundation areas. Helps prevent soil erosion on shaded slopes.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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