How to Grow Convallaria Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Lily of the Valley and May Lily

Convallaria is a hardy perennial that reaches about 20 cm in height.

A common name for Convallaria is Lily of the valley. The lily of the valley flowers are small, white or pink and bell-like; they bloom at the end of spring.

They make good plants to provide ground coverage in shady areas of the garden.

How to Grow Lily of the Valley and other Convallaria species

If planning to grow Convallaria outdoors from seed then it should be sown out at the end of winter. The seeds should be sown in flats, covered in compost, and have a layer of glass for protection. If you are growing Lilies of the valley from rhizomes then they should be buried at a depth of 5 to 8 cm.

Germination can take from two months up to one year. Once seedlings have appeared they should be transplanted into individual pots. Once the Convallaria plant appears to be strong they should be moved to a dedicated nursery bed for two years. After this time the perennial can be moved to its final location. This should be a partially shaded part of the garden (Lily of the Valley will grow in full shade, but will not produce abundant flowers) with good drainage.

Caring for Lily of the Valley

The plants should be spaced about 12 cm apart into an organic soil that is both moist and rich. Once established further plants can be had by division in the autumn. Lily of the valley plants require a lot of watering and should be fertilized at the beginning of spring (do not splash fertilizer onto the leaves). In the autumn a top dressing with leaf mold will help to protect the plant. The plant should be divided every five years to maintain vigorous growth.

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