Lily of the Valley: the official flower of May. Highly scented it lends itself well to being used in posies apparently. It is a hardy perennial that is ideal if you’re looking to create a woodland or cottage garden. Its white flowers appear in May and its botanical name is Convallaria magalis (we’ve told you this so the next time Monty Don points one out you can nod knowingly along with him).
Lily of the Valley can form extensive colonies – it spreads through its underground roots called rhizomes. It grows about 8-10 inches tall and will spread about 12 inches. It also bears small red berries about ¼ inch diameter around September time.
Although parts of Lily of the Valley have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes its pips, flowers and berries are poisonous.
You can buy Lily of the Valley in pots – if you do though be sure not to choose any with brown or yellowing leaves – chances are if they are this colour they have been in their pots too long.
Plant Lily of the Valley towards the end of September in damp or dry shade. It can also cope with sandy soil. Plant bulbs about 6 inches apart with about 9 inches between rows, plant them in firmly and make sure the crowns are well below the surface. Give it a dressing of leaf mould to help protect it through the winter.
It is recommended that plants are transplanted every 3 or 4 years or so. Dig up the plants in late September and divide the root system by cutting it into 3 inch squares, they’ll look like tufts. Then replant these tufts as you did the originals – 6 inches apart and 9 inches or so between rows. May should then give you a whole mass of new flowers.
Other little titbits about lily of the valley:
- The plural of lily of the valley is lilies of the valley
- Lily of the Valley is the national flower of Finland
- It is also the official May Day flower of France and every year tens of millions of sprigs of both wild and cultivated lily of the valley are sold on this day
- Lily of the valley is also known as Our Lady’s Tears since, according to legend the tears Mary shed at the cross turned into lilies of the valley
- According to folklore St Leonard fought a great dragon in a forest near Horsham in Sussex. During the battle St Leonard received many wounds and legend also has it that wherever the blood of St Leonard fell lilies of the valley sprang up
- It has been used as a cardiac tonic, a diuretic, it apparently “proved most useful in cases of poisonous gassing of our men at the Front”, it has been used on sprains and rheumatism, burns and scalds. See here for further information!
- English translations of the bible reference lily of the valley in Song of Solomon 2:1 (Song of Songs 2:1)
- The Salvation Army has a song called Lily of the valley, the words written by Charles W Fry in 1881 – check it out here - you can listen to it online!
- In terms of the meaning of flowers, Lily of the Valley represents purity, humility and sweetness
