Lily of the valley plants produces a delicate, fragrant flower that is unmistakable and a great addition to the garden (provided you manage to keep their spread in check). What kind of selection is out there? There’s a lot more to lily of the valley than just its sweet scent. Keep reading to learn more about the different lily of the valley plant types.
Common Types of Lily of the Valley
Common lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) has dark green leaves, tops out at about 10 inches (25 cm.) in height, and produces small, extremely fragrant, white flowers. As long as it’s contained from taking over the garden, you can’t go wrong with this variety. There are, however, a large number of interesting cultivars that set themselves apart.
Other Kinds of Lily of the Valley Plants
Lily of the valley doesn’t necessarily mean white flowers anymore. There are many lily of the valley varieties that produce pink blooms. “Rosea” is a cultivar of the plant that has flowers with a pink tinge to them. The amount and depth of the pink can vary from specimen to specimen. Another way to introduce more color to your lily of the valley patch is to choose a variety with variegated leaves. “Albomarginata” has white edges, while “Albostriata” has white stripes that fade somewhat to green as the summer wears on. Yellow and bright light green striping can be found in varieties like “Aureovariegata,” “Hardwick Hall,” and “Crema da Mint.” “Fernwood’s Golden Slippers” emerges with all over yellow foliage that never quite fades to green. Some more interesting kinds of lily of the valley varieties are grown for their size. “Bordeaux” and “Flore Pleno” will grow to a foot (31 cm.) tall. “Fortin Giant” can reach all the way to 18 inches (46 cm.) in height. “Flore Pleno,” as well as being tall, produces large double flowers. “Dorien” also has larger than normal flowers.
-
Want To Grow Four Season Containers? Try These 6 Best Plants For Pots All Year RoundAfter reliable container gardening options that serve you across all four seasons? You’ve come to the right place, as we present the best plants for pots all year round
-
6 Flower Seeds I’m Gifting Everyone I Know This Christmas – To Inspire Their Garden In 2025Give the most meaningful gift of growing this holiday season. Senior Editor Melanie shares her flower seed picks to delight both new and experienced gardeners.
-
Treating Diseased Lily Of The Valley Plants – Symptoms Of Lily Of The Valley DiseaseThere are some plants that it almost breaks your heart to see sick. Lily of the valley is one of those plants and one that's worth trying to save, when you can. Click here to learn how to treat sick lily of the valley, as well as ways to keep your plants healthier.
-
Lily Of The Valley Has Yellow Leaves – Reasons For Yellow Lily Of The Valley LeavesLily of the valley is known for its sweet fragrance and delicate white nodding flowers. When those two things are accompanied with yellow foliage, it's time to dig a little deeper to figure out what's wrong. Learn more about yellowing lily of the valley in this article.
-
Pests On Lily Of The Valley : Bugs And Animals That Eat Lily Of The Valley PlantsThere are few disease issues or lily of the valley pests. These are easily managed provided you know what you are looking for and how to treat the problem. Learn what pests on lily of the valley might be of concern, and how to identify and combat them in this article.
-
Moving Lily Of The Valley Plants: When To Transplant Lily Of The ValleyA rapid spreader, people find themselves moving lily of the valley all the time with no ill effects to the plant. That said, if you?re new to growing this specimen, click on the following article to find out when and how to transplant lily of the valley.
-
How Invasive Is Lily Of the Valley: Should I Plant Lily Of The Valley Ground CoverIs lily of the valley invasive? Lily of the valley is a perennial plant that grows from stem-like underground rhizomes that spread horizontally, often with amazing speed. It also reproduces from seeds. Exactly how invasive is lily of the valley anyway? Find out here.
-
Dividing Lily Of The Valley: When To Split Lily Of The Valley PlantsAlthough lily of the valley is extremely easy to grow (and may even become aggressive), occasional division is necessary to prevent the plant from becoming unhealthy and overcrowded. The following article can help get you started with lily of the valley division.
-
Is Lily Of The Valley Poisonous : Understanding Lily Of The Valley ToxicityIs lily of the valley safe for gardens? Lily of the valley toxicity makes it unsafe to have around children and pets. The plant is so dangerous that ingestion could result in a trip to the emergency room, or in rare cases death. Learn more in this article.
-
Lily Of The Valley Won’t Bloom: Why Is My Lily Of The Valley Not BloomingLily of the valley is a delightful spring bloom with tiny, bell-shaped white flowers. It does well in shadier areas of the garden and can even be a pretty ground cover, but when your lily of the valley isn?t blossoming, all you have is a lot of greenery. Find out how to fix that here.
