Convallaria Species, Lily of the Valley, May Bells, Our Lady's Tears

Convallariamajalis

Genus
Convallaria (kon-vuh-LAIR-ee-uh)
Species
majalis (maj-AY-liss)
Synonym
Convallaria latifolia
Convallaria linnaei
Sun Exposure
Light Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Deciduous
Herbaceous
Smooth
Height
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Pink
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Birmingham, Alabama

Anchorage, Alaska

Merced, California

San Bruno, California

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Denver, Colorado

Sarasota, Florida

Winterville, Georgia

Carol Stream, Illinois

Godfrey, Illinois

Hampton, Illinois

Peoria, Illinois

Tuscola, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Newburgh, Indiana

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Decorah, Iowa

Johnston, Iowa

Ewing, Kentucky

Russell, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Lisbon, Maine

Skowhegan, Maine

Cumberland, Maryland

Pikesville, Maryland

Billerica, Massachusetts

Halifax, Massachusetts

Mashpee, Massachusetts

Waltham, Massachusetts

Winchester, Massachusetts

Bay City, Michigan

Lake Orion, Michigan

Owosso, Michigan

Pinconning, Michigan

South Lyon, Michigan

Utica, Michigan

Braham, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

New Ulm, Minnesota

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Blue Springs, Missouri

Piedmont, Missouri

Lincoln, Nebraska

Auburn, New Hampshire

North Walpole, New Hampshire

Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Verona, New Jersey

Alden, New York

Baldwinsville, New York

Bolton Landing, New York

Buffalo, New York

Elba, New York

Fleischmanns, New York

Greene, New York

Himrod, New York

Ithaca, New York

Schenectady, New York

Syracuse, New York

Troy, New York

West Babylon, New York

Brevard, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Winston Salem, North Carolina

Belfield, North Dakota

Medora, North Dakota

Columbus, Ohio

Glouster, Ohio

Jamestown, Ohio

Niles, Ohio

Portland, Oregon(9 reports)

Albrightsville, Pennsylvania

Fayetteville, Pennsylvania

Greencastle, Pennsylvania

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania

Lansdowne, Pennsylvania

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Telford, Pennsylvania

Watsontown, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Conway, South Carolina

Florence, South Carolina

Greenville, South Carolina

Pickens, South Carolina

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Viola, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Houston, Texas

Farmington, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)

South Jordan, Utah

Tremonton, Utah

Leesburg, Virginia

Oakton, Virginia

Palmyra, Virginia

Springfield, Virginia

Stafford, Virginia

Bellevue, Washington

Cheney, Washington(2 reports)

Kalama, Washington

Kirkland, Washington

Woodinville, Washington

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Spooner, Wisconsin

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Watertown, Wisconsin

show all

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Gardener's Notes:

14
positives
7
neutrals
6
negatives
Sort By:
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B
B
Ithaca, NY (Zone 5a) | May 2017 | negative

Very invasive in my zone 5a woodland garden. A neighbor's patch that started from a single plant is nearly impossible to contain, even th...Read More

T
T
Birmingham, AL (Zone 8a) | August 2015 | positive

The invasive nature of this plant seems to be tempered in zones with prolonged, hot summers. Otherwise, even casually dug rhizomes transp...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2014 | neutral

This species thrives as far north as Z2.

It isn't an invasive threat to natural areas, but it can be quite aggressive in ...Read More

N
Portland, OR | October 2013 | positive

I've had this in a bed since I bought the house in 2007 and it's never grown much beyond its boundaries. I just dug it up to move it to a...Read More

R
Lexington, MA (Zone 6a) | March 2011 | positive

This is probably the easiest plant I know to start and to grow into a large colony for groundcover. The leaves do not particularly die ...Read More

B
Winston-Salem, NC (Zone 7b) | April 2010 | positive

Nothing reminds a southern fellow of his grandmother more than the scent of lily of the valley in springtime.

S
North Walpole, NH (Zone 5a) | June 2009 | neutral

I'm not sure what to think of my lily of the valley plants. I originally planted them as bulbs, and for 2 years, they didn't really come ...Read More

E
(Zone 10a) | October 2008 | negative

Very irregular blooming.
I believe they need really cold winters to flower well.
This winter i will add ice cubes on the gr...Read More

A
Piscataway, NJ | May 2008 | negative

I live in NJ (Zone 6) and Im having trouble growing this plant. I have planted several pips early this spring in my backyard(quite shady)...Read More

M
Braham, MN (Zone 3b) | May 2008 | positive

I had a large cluster of these plants in the yard, under a large oak tree, where I used to live. They were there when I moved in. I found...Read More

D
Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) | January 2008 | positive

I adore this plant, it grew like crazy back home in Pa., this is my 4th try trying to get this to grow in Texas. I should be so lucky to...Read More

M
M
Charlevoix, MI (Zone 4b) | May 2007 | positive

One of my all-time favorite flowers! I remember picking hundreds of them when I was a child...the sweet scent was always a harbinger of S...Read More

P
P
Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b) | June 2006 | positive

Very light scent. Beautiful white blooms. Needs alot of moisture I have found, at least for me they did. Bloomed nicely in pots, but I wo...Read More

J
J
Portland, OR (Zone 8a) | May 2006 | neutral

I planted about 4-5 pips 2 years ago. they doubled and I transplanted them to a new part of the yard early this spring. They have still N...Read More

C
C
Tucson, AZ (Zone 7b) | May 2006 | neutral

I bought a start of this plant several years ago at a garden club sale. I placed it in my perenial garden and forgot about it because i...Read More

E
Atmore, AL (Zone 8b) | April 2006 | positive

I have had this plant in my yard for over 40 years. It was planted by my great grandmother before she died. It dies off during the summer...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | neutral

This isn't the best looking plant most of the year and tends to take over, in some areas more than others, but when in bloom, its scent i...Read More

Z
Winston Salem, NC | January 2006 | positive

I grow Lily of the Valley in a small 12 foot corner of my garden. This area has a thick canopy of dogwood trees all summer so the plants ...Read More

P
(Zone 8b) | November 2004 | positive

I really like the lily of the valley plant because of its fragrance and lush foliage. I have a compact clump in a pot which dries out qui...Read More

M
Newburgh, IN (Zone 6a) | October 2004 | positive

I love the smell of the little bells. Reminds me of my Granny. They can be invasive but they are really nice in a deep shade area that ...Read More

K
Carol Stream, IL | May 2004 | negative

Extremely invasive, actually pushed through asphalt driveway. Impossible to kill, somehow a little survives and then spreads like wildfir...Read More

H
Jackson, NJ (Zone 7a) | March 2004 | negative

Have to agree totally with Sue. It can spread over 6 feet in a single season in loose sandy soil. In mulched areas it is somewhat easier ...Read More

S
Utica, MI | March 2004 | negative

In SE Michigan - this plant is very invasive. I am constantly digging it up to keep it under control - spreads rapidly thru underground s...Read More

C
Oakville, ON (Zone 5b) | March 2003 | positive

I have been growing Convallaria for several years and love them. The clumps expand fairly slowly but enough that I have been able to exp...Read More

B
San Francisco, CA | March 2003 | positive

I finally got this plant to grow, after giving up entirely on it. I find it to be very difficult in my zone, so I am not sure if I should...Read More

S
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | August 2002 | neutral

An individual plant consists of two or three boardly oval, pointed leaves up to 8" long; underground rhizomes for gradually expanding clu...Read More

J
J
MD &, VA (Zone 7b) | November 2000 | neutral

Lily of the Valley are highly scented, low growing of 8" to 12" high and will spread as much as you let them by pips, or rhizomes. They h...Read More

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