Lily of the Valley (Convallaria)
Perennial
- Delicate, bell-shaped blooms flourish in spring!
- Delightfully fragrant.
- Highly deer resistant and easy to grow.
- Waxy blue-green leaves thrive in the shade.
- Zones 3-8, part sun/shade, 12" tall x 12" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: CANADA
Description
Details
Common name: Lily of the valley
Zone: 3 - 8
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 6-12" X 8-12"
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Wet soil, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, ground covers, fragrant, deer resistant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Container, edging, ground cover, massing, small spaces, underplanting, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Grows well in morning sun to full shade, in all but the driest of spots. Hot afternoon sun may burn leaves.
Water: Moderate, prefers even moisture. It can tolerate dry conditions but often goes dormant early (though it will return the following season without fail).
Spacing: 1 ft apart.
Fertilizing: Grow in well-drained soil that is moderately fertile and humus-rich. We do not recommend fertilizing at planting time or during the first growing season. If soil is low quality in successive years, a light scattering of slow-release fertilizer in spring should be sufficient.
Winterizing: Keep old foliage over winter to protect crowns. After the ground freezes, apply a loose layer of oak leaves, pine boughs, or straw. You can gradually remove mulch and cut back old foliage in early spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Little care is needed; if plant spreads beyond the desired area, dig extra plants out. Divide as necessary.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.