The illustrated growing guide
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
Family Asparagaceae
Est. zones 2-7
The old-fashioned fragrance of spring — sprays of tiny white bells with a perfume that carries, in the deep dry shade where little else thrives. It spreads aggressively by underground runners, so it's a groundcover for a contained area, not a polite clump. Important caution: every part is highly toxic, including the water it sits in, so keep it away from children and pets.
Part Shade to Shade
Moderate water
Moderate-Fast growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing lily of the valley? Hang it.
Our Poisonous Plants collection carries lily of the valley — Convallaria majalis, print Nº 8, “Lily of the Valley.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will lily of the valley suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what lily of the valley actually needs.
Hardy inZones 2-7Lily of the Valley at a glance
Common lily of the valley problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow lily of the valley: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate lily of the valley
III
The year
What lily of the valley asks for, month by month.
The lily of the valley year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The lily of the valley year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar bloom
- Apr bloom
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Lily of the Valley in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Living mulch
What lily of the valley is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenALL PARTS HIGHLY TOXIC (cardiac glycosides) — keep from kids/pets; even vase water is toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of lily of the valley, ruled as a catalogue.
Best lily of the valley varieties & cultivars
'Rosea' (pink); 'Bordeaux' (large); variegated forms
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to lily of the valleyyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Lily of the Valley questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat lily of the valley?
Rarely — lily of the valley is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is lily of the valley safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. ALL PARTS HIGHLY TOXIC (cardiac glycosides) — keep from kids/pets; even vase water is toxic Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate lily of the valley?
Division or seed.
IX
Elsewhere
Where lily of the valley sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hens and Chicks