How to Care for Lily of the Valley Flowers

The flowers of the lily of the valley plant are tiny bell-shaped blooms.

Lily of the valley is a hardy perennial plant that thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 7. Lily of the valley grows to a maximum height of 12 inches tall and blooms in the month of April. Lily of the valley spreads using an underground rhizome system making it a possible choice for a ground cover. The flowers of the lily of the valley plant have a very strong scent. You can bring a lily of the valley plant inside for a fragrant winter bloom.

Things You'll Need

• Organic matter
• Garden rake
• 12-4-8 fertilizer
• Organic mulch

Instructions

1. Add a 2-inch layer of organic matter to the soil around the lily of the valley plants. Use a large garden rake to mix the soil into the top 8 to 10 inches of garden soil around the plants. Lily of the valley thrives in soil rich in organic matter which drains well.

2. Give your lily of the valley plants a few hours of shade during the afternoon. If your plants are in the ground, plant larger plants, such as daylilies, near them to block out some of the sun's rays. Move potted plants to a covered porch or to an area where the lily of the valleys will receive shade in the afternoon. Lily of the ally plants can survive in full sun, if necessary, but they thrive in areas of partial shade.

3. Mix a complete crystallized fertilizer, 12-4-8, into the top 6 inches soil with a garden rake. Do this once in the spring, summer and fall. This will help the lily of the valley plants grow into a thick ground cover. You can stop fertilizing after the plants fill in the area.

4. Lay down a 6-inch layer of organic mulch around the lily of the valley plants. This will aid in deterring weeds from invading the bed while the plants are growing. Pull any weeds, by hand, that happen appear in the mulch.

5. Water the lily of the valley plant every two to three days during the hot summer months. The soil surrounding the plants should be moist at all times. You can cut back on watering to once a week when the weather is cooler in the fall. The mulch will also help to hold the moisture in the soil.

Tips & Warnings

• Lily of the valley plants are poisonous if ingested. Call the poison control center at 800-222-1222 in the event of accidental ingestion.

References

• Cornell University: Lily of the Valley
• University of Illinois Extension: Lily of the Valley
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Groundcovers
• University of Illinois Extension: Groundcovers as Lawn Alternatives in Shade

Resources

• North Carolina State University: Convallaria majalis
• American Association of Poison Control Centers: Who We Are