Lily of the Valley

Description

A charming, old-fashioned favorite. Arching racemes of pendulous, bell-shaped, pure white flowers appear in spring and last for several weeks. These blooms are very fragrant; they are even used in making perfume! Tiny orange berries follow the flowers.Despite the dainty appearance of the blossoms, Convallaria is actually a tough, vigorous groundcover. Use it to cover slopes and riverbanks or in shady woodland sites, even under trees.Lily of the Valley grows best in woodland-like conditions: fertile, humus-rich, moist soil and partial to full shade. It will, however, grow in full sun in northern regions if the soil remains moist. Be careful when siting this plant–though it may take a while to get started, this plant will spread rapidly, forming a dense, weed-smothering groundcover.Lily of the Valley greatly benefits from an annual application of organic compost each fall.Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.