Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family. It grows 15–25 cm (6–10 in) tall and 30–60 cm (12–24 in) wide, wants shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
Plan Lily of the valley in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Lily of the valley at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Mature height | 15–25 cm (6–10 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 2 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 28 °C (82 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 2–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇫🇷 France |
Is Lily of the valley toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: severely toxic
- Dogs: severely toxic
- Parts: all parts, berries, water from vase
Contains cardiac glycosides; all parts are poisonous and can cause heart arrhythmias.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Lily of the valley
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and moderate water.
Questions about Lily of the valley
- How far apart should I plant Lily of the valley?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–60 cm (12–24 in).
- Does Lily of the valley need full sun?
- Shade: at least 2 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Lily of the valley need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Lily of the valley?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Lily of the valley flower?
- From about May for 2–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Lily of the valley poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. Contains cardiac glycosides; all parts are poisonous and can cause heart arrhythmias.
- What grows well with Lily of the valley?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Lily of the valley. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Spreads by rhizomes and can become invasive.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
- Hosta Hosta spp.
- Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
- Grape hyacinth Muscari armeniacum
- Common bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- Tuberose Agave amica (Polianthes tuberosa)
- Century plant (agave) Agave americana
- Adam's needle (yucca) Yucca filamentosa