Native to North America, England, and North Asia, the Lily of the valley blooms. The scientific name for them is Convallaria majalis. Lilies have various varieties, yet they all have similar chemical constituents and therapeutic advantages. The Lily of the valley is one of the most popular varieties.
Flavonoids, antioxidants that shield cells from harm by free radicals, are abundant in them. Unstable chemicals called free radicals damage cells. By giving free radicals electrons, antioxidants help stop free radical damage.
What is Lily of the Valley?
The Lily of the valley is a perennial plant. It is a native of Europe and a member of the Liliaceae family. The rhizome produces wide, flat, erect clumps of the leaf. During the spring blooming season, delicate bell-shaped flower heads will develop all along slightly arched flower stalks.
The blooms have a lovely scent and can be either pink or white. In the garden, the lilies of the valley prefer a shady area that is cool and moist with lots of compost and leaf mulch. They require a few years to establish themselves and are at their best when left alone.
Origin and Symbolism
Nearly all of Europe is home to Lily of the valley, which thrives particularly in beech and oak woods and has extended as far as the Caucasus. The plant often only flourishes in hilly regions of southern Europe. Although Lily of the valley is common in North America, human action brought it there rather than natural selection.
Lilies of the valley, regarded as a sign of medicine; in the past, famous physicians frequently appeared with them. The Lily of the valley appears in Christian iconography as well. The Lily of the valley is a flower that represents closeness and love in the language of flowers. The blossoms’ white hue conveys purity, while the green leaves symbolize optimism. The “Mary’s tears” represent the Virgin Mary’s chaste love, humility, and modesty.
Growing Advice for Lily of the Valley
You can soak the roots in lukewarm water for an hour before planting if they appear to be quite dry at that time.Lily of the valley needs weekly watering during the first 4-6 weeks after planting, much like other transplants.
Lily of the valley is a resilient plant that can thrive in any soil or environment. Although the plants are extremely drought resilient once established, the roots adore moisture. Lily of the valley foliage typically remains green all winter long in warmer climates. Plants and flowers are hardly ever bothered by deer.
Planting and Caring
Here is some guidance of Lily of the valley for planting and caring:
Planting instructions
When planted in the proper spot, the Lily of the valley is simple to cultivate, but it requires a barrier to keep it from spreading out of hand. Choose a position where the ground is damp but not soggy. If there are still puddles many hours after a shower, look for another location.
Since the Lily of the valley enjoys shade, it will grow best in an area with some morning light and afternoon shade. It normally works well to position it at the foot of a tree or beneath a shrub, but if it’s close to other plants. It could ultimately choke them out. Your plants could need extra water in a location with higher sun exposure.
Nutrition and hydration
Lily of the valley may cultivated in drier climates, but they thrive in wet, well-drained soil that is shaded. They will need frequent watering if you plant them in a sunny, dry location. But you can help by surrounding the plants with a two to three-inch layer of mulch or compost.
Unless the soil where they are planted is significantly deficient in nutrients, lilies of the valley do not require fertilisation. When you first plant the pips, amending the soil with organic material will be more than enough. The plant will return in the spring if the summers are too hot and dry and the leaves begin to die back.
Light
Lily of the valley grows well in some shade. It provides shade from the sun, such as behind a tree. Its native habitat is under the dappled shade produced by the canopies of trees and bigger plants. It would help if you tried to replicate this look by placing Lily of the Valley in your garden in a location.
Even though it enjoys shade, this plant can thrive in virtually any lighting situation. Because it can thrive in conditions, many other plants cannot. This would be a good plant to use if you wanted to brighten up some dark garden regions.
Propagation
A healthy lily of the valley will swiftly cover the space where it was planted by vigorously spreading through its rhizomes. Digging up your garden, splitting it into distinct sections, and replanting it is one way to share plants or add them to another region of your yard. Although growing them from the pips would result in blooms much quicker. They can grow from the seeds generated in their orange/red berries.
You will need many parent plants for fertilization to occur if you grow from seeds because each spreading plant arises from a separate rhizome. Once the seeds have dried and extracted from the mature berries, they must planted six inches deep.
Pruning
Lily of the valley plants don’t need to be pruned, but if the plants are getting weaker as they keep dividing, you could want to trim them down. After the blooms have faded, the plants will be healthier if their green leaves aren’t touched. The plant’s rhizomes will get stronger as the climate warms and the leaves begin to wither.
Conclusion
Beautiful cut flowers made from lilies of the valley. With their delicate, fragrant blossoms, it is much sought after for a bride’s bouquet. It represents the purity of heart and sweetness of spirit. The Lily of the valleyis a common ground cover in gloomy locations and wooded settings. They are wonderful plants to grow in the shade of a big tree. They may also be grown in pots and brought inside during the flowering season, in courtyards, on verandas, or in other outside spaces.
Also read: How to Grow a Magnolia Tree Carefully?
