Convallaria majalis L. Lily of the valley, European lily of the valley
Native to temperate regions in Asia and Europe, lily-of-the-valley may also be native to the eastern United States, though it may also have been introduced there. They are not true lilies, and are in a class by themselves. There is something almost magical in delicate appearance of the small, bell-shaped flowers. They spread into clonal colonies via their root systems. They prefer the partial shade of forest floors in temperate regions. Plants: Up to 6-12″ (15-30 cm) in height, consisting of one or two long, narrow leaves and a central stem with a raceme of flowers. Leaves: Oblong or ovate-elliptic, about 4-10″ (10-25 cm) in length, with smooth edges and parallel veins. Flowers: 5-15 white, bell-shaped nodding flowers hang along the upper length of the flowering stalk. Each flower looks like a small bonnet. They are usually white, and sometimes pink. They appear in April. Fruits: Orange-red, ⅛-¼″ (5-7 mm) in diameter. Edibility: Highly poisonous , due to high content of the cardiac glycosides, convallarin and convallamarin. Medical: The same cardiac glycosides that make this plant potentially deadly led to its past use as an herbal remedy for treatment of cardiac conditions. |
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It is pretty hard to confuse lily of the valley and Canada mayflower, also called false lily of the valley: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are here Convallaria majalis |
Maianthemum canadense |
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Common Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant | 6-12″ (15-30 cm) high | 3-6″ (7.6-15 cm) high | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | 5-15 white, bell-shaped flowers hanging along the length of the flowering stalk. Flowers are usually white, rarely pink. | Flowers are less than ¼″ (6.3 mm), with four parts, stamens seemingly sticking out in all directions, on upright stems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | One or two long, narrow leaves about 4-10″ (10-25 cm), with tapering, sharp tips and parallel veins. | One to three leaves, heart-shaped, 2-5″ (5-12 cm) long × 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) wide. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruit | Berries are orange-red, ⅛-¼″ (5-7 mm) in diameter. | Note young fruits (left) and mature fruits. Green or bronze at first, with dark red or brown spots, about 1/16-3/16″ (3-5 mm) in diameter, becoming soft and dull red. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones | USDA Zones: 3-8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Habitats | Shaded forest floors in temperate regions | Rich woods, damp mossy woods, in partial shade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occurrence | Common | Common |
Edibility: Poisonous Lily of the valley contains chemicals that interfere with heart operation. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous.
Online References:
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
Convallaria majalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2023.
Range: Zones 3-8: