By Julie Christensen
Native to temperate region of Asia , Europe and North America , lily of the valley(Convallaria majalis)has long been a favourite industrial plant for shady orbit . It ’s unfearing in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zone 3 through 8 and thrives in fond to full shade . In its aboriginal environment , it grows under both evergreen and deciduous trees . In the home garden , it looks lovely under shade trees or mixed with spring - flower bulbs .
Lily of the valley spreads through underground rootstock , forming a dense carpet of deep leaves . Atop the leaves appear dainty clusters of Vanessa Bell - shaped flowers in the spring . The blossom are white and sweetly fragrant .
Lily of the valley flowers are sometimes bang as “ Mary ’s Tears , ” and the narrative goes that the plants flower where the Virgin Mary ’s tear dropped at the clip of Christ ’s crucifixion . In France , street vendors betray efflorescence clusters of lily of the valley on May 1 to receive spring .
Planting and Caring for Lily of the Valley
industrial plant lily of the vale from baby’s room transplants or divisions in early leap . Amend poor soils with compost , manure and peat moss . If your territory is very alkaline , add some sulfur to lour the ground pH. Space lily of the valley plants 12 inches apart and water ofttimes to keep the soil slightly moist . Mulch lily of the valley plant with 2 to 3 column inch of Mrs. Henry Wood Saratoga chip .
Although lily of the valley is technically sturdy to zone 8 , it really favour moist , cool mood . It flourish in the Pacific Northwest and along the East Coast . If you survive in an expanse with warm , blistering summer , plant it in full shade and keep the soil moist at all times . Even then , it may not perform well .
Fertilize lily of the valley in the spring with a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertiliser distribute at a charge per unit of ¼ cup per 100 solid feet . split lily of the vale every two to three long time , or when growth and blooms behind .
Potential Problems and Pests
First , keep in mind that all percentage of the flora are look at venomous to both man and favourite . If ingest , the plants can cause breathing trouble , vomiting , looseness , and a slow heartbeat . Avoid planting lily of the valley near looseness areas or where pets will have accession to it .
In addition to its toxicity , the main financial obligation of lily of the valley is its aggressiveness . In the idealistic climate , it spreads vigorously and will outcompete most other perennial . Plant it by itself in a contained area under trees and permit it to distribute . Dig it up per year to keep it in bounds .
Lily of the valley is fairly resistant to plague , let in deer . punch and escargot may fertilize on it , specially in moist soils . If slugs are a problem , draw out back the mulch and countenance the territory to dry out . Install stagnate traps and baits .
Stem bunkum and leaf floater sometimes smite lily of the valley . Be indisputable to plant lily of the valley in well - drain soil and expend trickle system , rather than overhead irrigation . Remove any morbid leaves now and toss out them to slow the cattle ranch of disease .
Cultivars Worth Trying
Can lily of the valley kill you?
All portion of lily of the valley are poisonous and severe poisoning cases can get death , peculiarly to child or pets , though fatality is possible in grownup . consumption of an amount as small as two leave-taking can be fateful to children or pets . Lily of the vale is toxicant because it arrest cardiac glycoside , which inhibit the heart ’s ability to pump . Consumption can cause blurred vision , gastric distress , heart cardiac arrhythmia , deadening or irregular impulse , seizures , vomiting , or dying . If ingested , call 911 , the Poison Control Center at 800 - 222 - 1222 , or ASPCA ’s Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888 - 426 - 4435 .
Can you grow lily of the valley in pots?
Yes , you’re able to produce lily of the vale in containers indoors or outside in their USDA maturate zones , 3 through 8 . acquire lily of the valley in containers can help control the spread that get some gardeners hesitant to cultivate it . Lily of the vale has foresightful root word system , so apply a container that is deep than it is wide of the mark that has drainage hole .
Plant rhizomes one or two inches aside in a stock potting mix , covering the tops of the rhizome buds with soil . incur a location for the container that flummox bright , collateral sunlight where the temperature stays around 60 - 70 degree Fahrenheit . reckon on your climate , you may need to impart the container indoors from fall to spring to keep your lily of the vale alive .
Can you grow lily of the valley indoors?
Yes , lily of the valley can be grown indoors as long as its needs are met . Grow in a container deeper than it is wide to admit the plant ’s long roots . container should also have drainage gob . Cover rhizomes up to the bud with a standard potting mix , and come up a berth for the pot that mystify bright indirect sun . The room where you grow lily of the vale should stay between 60 and 70 grade Fahrenheit . calculate on the mood where you survive , you may require to fetch lily of the valley indoors from fall to natural spring .
Can you root lily of the valley?
You create fresh lily of the valley plants by division instead of root a cutting . Divide lily of the valley during the industrial plant ’s dormancy period in spring or fall , four to six weeks before the first expected freeze in your field . weewee embed a day or two before dividing . Trim tall leaf down to five or six inches . Then dig up the rootstalk , also called pips , and separate them with a unclouded , desex spade or other horticulture putz . You may need to cut through tangled roots .
labor about six to eight in around the plant life to avoid harming the bulb . Discard any rhizomes that are slimy , discolour , or otherwise appear unhealthy . industrial plant immediately in a spot that have fond spook where the soil has been remediate with compost , spacing to allow four or five inch between each rootstock . If you implant a whole clump , provide one or two feet of space around it . Water newly planted lily of the vale until the area is equally moist but not waterlogged .
Do deer eat lily of the valley plants?
cervid avoid deplete lily of the valley since the plant life are venomous .
Do lily of the valley like sun or shade?
The good lieu to plant lily of the valley is one that gets fond nicety . However , the plants can be adapt to tolerate full sun or spook if their water intake is adjusted .
Do lily of the valley plants spread?
Yes , lily of the vale is invading and will spread if measures are not take to control it .
Do slugs eat lily of the valley?
Both snails and slugs eat lily of the valley , chew ragged holes in its leaves . For more data , check out our article onSlug and Snail Pest Control .
How big does lily of the valley get?
Lily of the vale plants acquire between six inches and one foot tall .
How deep do I plant lily of the valley?
Plant lily of the valley rootstock , or pip , with the dirt cut through the buds at the top .
How do I get rid of the lily of the valley in my garden?
Dig up the seeable plant and as many of its belowground rootstock as you could find , and dispose of them properly . employ a rake or your fingers to comb out through dirt for broken in or partial rhizome pieces left behind , and dispose of those as well . spread over the land where lily of the valley was growing with composition board or layers of newspaper , and burthen it down with cinder blocks , bricks , or other heavy objects . allow for this layer for the rest of the growing season or at least six months .
How do you fertilize lily of the valley?
Use a slow release chondritic plant food in a 10 - 10 - 10 blend , and apply according to the manufacturer ’s instructions .
How do you transplant lily of the valley?
Divide lily of the valley when the works is hibernating in outpouring or fall . Dig about six in around the plant to head off harming the hugger-mugger rootstock . Lift the clumps out of the shit and divide into several sections , then plant each section in its young location , giving four or five in of space . If you engraft a whole clump instead of dislocated rhizomes , give one or two feet of blank space . Bury rhizomes deep enough to cover the buds , then piss well enough that grunge is equally moist but not overly wet .
How do you winterize lily of the valley?
rationalize back any foliage that is dead or morbid , then add a one - column inch layer of compost or older manure over the top of the plant . This layer will fertilize the ground for the next season as well as protect the plants from the frigidity .
How far apart do you plant lily of the valley?
If set individual rhizomes or young plants , give five or six column inch of distance on all side . If plant an entire bunch of rhizomes , give one or two invertebrate foot of blank space on all side .
How long does it take for lily of the valley to spread?
Lily of the valley spreads apace and has been known to double its spread each class .
How long do lily of the valley bloom?
Lily of the valley flora bloom for three or four weeks begin in mid - spring . If grown indoors , it can flower out of season .
How often do lily of the valley bloom?
Lily of the valley growing outdoors blossom for a three- to four - workweek geological period each leap . Growing indoors , they can bloom out of season .
How often do you water lily of the valley?
Whenever the soil lily of the valley is engraft in dries out to one or two inches below the surface , put up it with one inch of water . you could see to it the moisture level of the filth by simply stick your fingerbreadth into the dirt . If soil clings to your cutis , it is still dampish .
Is it OK to touch lily of the valley?
All role of the lily of the valley industrial plant are poisonous if consumed , but it is not harmful when pertain .
Is lily of the valley poisonous to humans, dogs, or cats?
Lily of the valley is severely venomous to humans as well as pets . Ingesting an amount as low as two leaves can cause destruction in children or pets , though eating enough can be fatal to adult as well . The cardiac glycosides in the industrial plant make it toxicant by inhibiting the heart ’s power to pump . Consuming lily of the valley can cause blurry vision , gastric distraint , heart cardiac arrhythmia , deadening or irregular pulse , seizures , vomiting , or death . If ingest , call 911 , the Poison Control Center at 800 - 222 - 1222 , or ASPCA ’s Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888 - 426 - 4435 .
Should I deadhead lily of the valley?
Deadhead lily of the valley by trimming off the wither blooms from the fore when they begin to wilt to keep plant life looking neat and boost blooming .
What conditions does lily of the valley like?
Lily of the valley likes fond spectre , though with alteration to its watering , it can tolerate full shade to full sun . It prefers moist , well - draining soil and should get one in of weewee when the top in or two of stain has dried out . Feed lily of the valley with a 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer according to manufacturer educational activity .
For more information on lily of the valley, visit the following links:
Convallaria majalisfrom the Missouri Botanical Gardens
Lily of the Valley Diseasesfrom Penn State Extension
Learn how to grow lily of the valley peak for indoor bloomson YouTube .
