Sunday, February 17

Lily of the valley

The sweet belle of spring

Convallaria majalis 'Rosea' forms a sweet-smelling groundcover at the feet of blooming rhododendrons and azaleas. Photo by Betty Earl

Having a thick carpet of blooming lily-of-the-valley in your borders may be the stuff of your dreams, but before you are tempted to grab that first fistful of the richly scented blossoms, be forewarned: Like many other plants in your garden, including hydrangea, daffodil, and foxglove, every part of this plant is mildly toxic.

The stalwart of all English gardens, lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) is a sweet little shade-loving deciduous perennial. This old fashioned, extra hardy plant (Zones 2 - 7), standing a mere six to eight inches tall, is a floral giant in any woodland garden. It is especially well suited for use as a groundcover under shrubs and trees as well as along north-facing walls where few other plants will grow, much less blossom. The very sweet scented, white, dangling, bell-shaped flowers, though miniscule, pack a powerful punch. Four or five tiny sprigs can perfume a room, while a small patch in the landscape fills the yard with its intoxicating scent in early spring.

Lily-of-the-valley, traditionally used in bridal bouquets, spreads by underground rhizomes to form a carpet in shady, evenly moist soils. Though completely comfortable in deep shade and easily grown under almost any condition -- sun or shade, wet or dry -- lily-of-the-valley prefers dappled shade, the rich loamy soil of mature woodlands and amble moisture. Yes, it can be invasive. And sure, sited in full sun with no additional moisture, it can look bedraggled, almost weedy, during the dog days of summer. But you know the old saying: a weed is only a plant growing in the wrong spot. So site it correctly, contain its spread with barriers, divide it every two to three years, and you will be rewarded with one of spring's captivating highlights.

General culture
To emulate favorable growing conditions in your garden, add organic matter to the soil before planting and apply generous amounts of mulch annually. Propagation is by rhizome division in late fall or in early spring. (Note: Most mail order catalogs sell them by pips, which are nothing more than the large buds on the end of the rhizomes.)

Convallaria majalis is a beloved ground cover for shady sites. And, today, other less-aggressive varieties make keeping the plant in bounds easier than ever. Photo courtesy the Missouri Botanical Plant Finder

Convallaria majalis 'Aureovariegata's' striking foliage adds an interesting dimension to the border long after its flowers have faded.

Convallaria majalis 'Rosea' produces dainty pink flowers. Photo by Betty Earl

Available cultivars
As likeable a plant as the common lily-of-the-valley is, there are superior cultivars available now that will add sparkle to your garden. Most of these little charmers exhibit better manners and tend to spread less vigorously than your grandmother's plants.

'Rosea' grows dainty pink flowers, but care must be taken when purchasing this cultivar for there is great diversity. Though all are sold under the name of 'Rosea', some will sport a barely noticeable wisp of pale pink coloration, while others have strong mauve/pink tones. My recommendation is that unless you trust your supplier to get a pink you'll truly like, purchase this cultivar in bloom.

Variegation adds a whole new dimension to convallaria plants. Along with a spring display of dainty, luxuriantly scented white bells, the foliage of 'Albomarginata' has white-edged leaves. 'Albostriata' is another variegated variety with white to creamy colored striping on the leaves, which fades to light green in the summer. On the other hand, the adorable minx, 'Aureovariegata,' has dark green leaves and clearly defined yellow stripes that are bright yellow in early spring, fading only somewhat in summer.

'Dorien' is of typical height but with larger dancing flowers, 'Bordeaux' (12 inches) and 'Fortin's Giant' (18 inches) improve on the favorite with greater stature, longer stems and larger dangling bells. 'Flore Pleno' (12 inches) displays double blossoms, and 'Prolificans,' as its name implies, blooms with a wild abundance of single little bells.

More and more cultivars sport yellow foliage, such as 'Hardwick Hall' and 'Cream da Mint' with its yellow-edged borders in the spring. (Yes, that's " cream da" not "crème de," for it was first discovered in the boonies and named after the way they pronounce the drink.) And finally, there is 'Fernwood's Golden Slippers,' truly a rarity with all gold leaves.

Currently in my garden, 'Fortin's Giant,' 'Cream da Mint,' 'Flore Pleno' and 'Aureovariegata' are much welcomed and loved, well behaved, non-aggressive little clumpers that play well with each other and mid-sized or smaller hostas, dainty ferns, and other smaller denizens of my shady border.

In addition to the above-named cultivars, there is a plant known as Simply-Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria majuscula, (formerly listed as Convallaria majalis var. montana or Convallaria montana) which is indigenous to a very limited range in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. This is our native lily-of-the-valley that is a wee bit larger, holds its floral stems closer to the leaf, and is less invasive than the European species currently in our gardens. And thanks to intrepid plant hunters, we can now enjoy the even rarer Japanese lily-of-the-valley, Convallaria keiskei, from a few mail-order sources. At this stage, these rather pricey plants, which are very similar to the European lily-of-the-valley but exhibit larger flowers that open a few weeks later, are probably geared more for the plant collector than the typical gardener.

Any one or all of these plants would make a nice addition to a woodland garden, tucked under shrubs and trees or covering a steep, shady bank where nothing else will grow. Give lily-of-the-valley a try. Surely these fragrant belles of spring will delight you as they do me!

Author of "In Search of Great Plants: The Insider's Guide to the Best Plants in the Midwest," Betty Earl is a Master Gardener, photographer and lecturer. She writes for numerous regional gardening magazines, is a garden scout for both Better Homes & Gardens and Midwest Living magazines and also serves as a regional representative for the Garden Conservancy. She lives and gardens in Naperville.