Lilly of the Valley

12 years ago

I have been waiting to see if my Lilly of the Valley would come up this Spring. It was an abused, thrice moved, heat exhausted single little transplant last Summer. Lo, and behold, up is coming two little floret shoots and a point that looks like a leaf. AND, LO AND BEHOLD, an hour later while I was weeding I knocked the two little flower shoots right off. Will it continue to grow and will it produce more flowers this year? I'm thinking they are hardy and will continue to grow and expand, but I'm sad that I knocked off the flower......will it keep growing and make more flowers?

Comments (12)

shadylane5
12 years ago
What I've noticed that they come up in thin blade spikes at first with a lot of elbow room in between the others. I do believe they only bloom once,but stay quite a long period of time. When they become more established you may see more flower spikes and actually more foliage than blooms. I have a mass of them so it is hard to tell.
Carefull handlying them they can become harmfull to your health if put into the mouth. Somthing about making ones heart race.
Iris GW
12 years ago
I don't think Lily of the Valley is a native plant (which is what this forum is about, btw).
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marymd7
12 years ago
Lily of the valley is NOT a native plant. As far as I know it doesn't work its way into natural areas (in other words, not an exotic invasive), but it is notoriously thuggish in garden situations once established.
fatamorgana2121
12 years ago
Lily-of-the-valley does, however, hate full sun as much as Dracula. It will retreat to the garden areas where it can be shaded - so it's not a complete thug! It is a nice plant for the miserable dry shade areas around the foundation of your house where little else grows.

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terryr
12 years ago
I was weeding yesterday and while weeding, I found a small clump of lily of the valley. I know it's lily of the valley because it was blooming, and also because our neighbor has it down the side of their house and in the front corner, closest to us, that's how I know the plant. I've never had lily of the valley...it got here somehow....does it go to seed and birds ate the seed and deposited it here?
Lynda Waldrep
12 years ago
There is an American lily of the valley: Convallaria majuscula. It is similar to its European cousin but the colonies are very sparse, i.e., the plants don't crowd each other.

I have seen it several times at higher elevations in the NC mountains and once in the Piedmont at a Trillium site.
finchelover
12 years ago
I have an odd story. I had gotten a starter plant from a fellow worker, It took years to spread. This year it really took off. Why! I had them close to 50 years.
terryr
12 years ago
It also appears that the flower is lower on the Convallaria majuscula. One of the sites I went to, said that's the easiest way to tell it apart.
dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
12 years ago
Another native, Maianthemum canadensis, aka Wild Lily-of-The-Valley thrives in my yard here. The ground is now covered in little red berries which the wild turkeys munch on for dinner occasionally.
A most suitable substitute.
Lynda Waldrep
12 years ago
I love the M. canadensis. Unfortunately, mine are sparse...not enough moisture for them to be lush. But, they do live here and are prolific in the mt. area.
Laurel Zito
12 years ago
Once they bloom, they won't expand until the following year, but you can prolong the blooming by giving them daily water or at least in the afternoon, giving the water. Mine like some sun, if they get daily water, they hate to dry out, but sun can be good for them in limited amounts.
Martalan
12 years ago
lily bloom once a year.If you care it well,then It can bloom next year.Good luck with you.