ConvallariaConvallaria andand BY C. COLSTON BURRELL TheirTheir KinKin IfIf youyou likelike lilylily ofof thethe valley,valley, it’sit’s worthworth exploringexploring otherother membersmembers ofof thisthis genusgenus ofof shade-lovingshade-loving plants.plants. NANCY J. ONDRA 18 the American Gardener OTH ADORED and spurned by Lily of the valley also has a rich medici- for now at least, alighted in the asparagus gardeners, lily of the valley (Con- nal history. The leaves and flowers contain family (Asparagaceae). Bvallaria majalis) is an enchant- cardiac glycosides including convallatoxin, The generic name Convallaria derives ing and carefree heirloom perennial that with a long and proven record as a cardi- from the Latin convallis—a valley, and the spreads freely, if not recklessly. Multiple ac tonic and a digitalis alternative. It pur- specific epithet majalis denotes May, the common names describe its iconic reli- portedly is good for sprains, to strengthen time wild plants flower in Europe. The gious and secular status including May memory, restore speech, prevent gout, and common name lily of the valley is a direct lily, May bells, lily of constancy, Jacob’s to ease colic. Despite these varied uses, all translation of the archaic botanical name ladder, and ladder-to-heaven. Legend al- parts of the plant can be fatally toxic, so Lilium convallium. so christened it Our Lady’s tears as, sup- it should never be used except under the Beginning in mid-spring, one-sided ra- posedly, Mary’s tears shed at the cross direction of a physician. cemes 6 to 12 inches high bearing eight to transformed into the delicate flowers. 15 campanulate white flowers with six re- English lore suggests that lilies of TAXONOMIC NOTES flexed lobes emerge at ground level along the valley sprang up from the blood of Lily of the valley is among the most easily with the foliage. The flowers offer intox- St. Leonard, who fought a great dragon. recognized and cherished members of icating fragrance in the garden and vase. Their fragrant, nodding bells are cele- a family set adrift by the winds of revi- Pollinated by beetles and flies, flowers give brated in secular song and rhyme, includ- sionist taxonomy. Historically, it found way to red-orange berries in late summer. ing this ditty penned by Paul Lawrence a home in the lily family (Liliaceae). Re- Each berry contains up to 24 seeds. Fruit Dunbar: cently, this vast family was tamed based set is generally low, as two different clones on DNA sequencing. Lily of the valley may be required for fertilization. Fleshy “Sweetest of the flowers a-blooming, in and other garden-worthy relations—in- white rhizomes form eyes, or pips at reg- the fragrant vernal days, is the lily of the cluding Solomon’s seals (Polygonatum) ular intervals, allowing for rapid growth. valley with its soft, retiring ways” and mayflowers (Maianthemum)—have, Plants are clonal and often produce broad, Opposite page: Convallaria majalis ‘Striata’—also sold as ‘Aureovariegata’ and ‘Variegata’—features variably striped foliage. This page: SUSAN A. ROTH NANCY J. ONDRA Convallaria majalis, shown here with Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica), spreads quickly to make a verdant groundcover. March / April 2021 19 SELECTED CULTIVARS OF CONVALLARIA MAJALIS ‘Aureovariegata’ (‘Striata’ or ‘Variegata’) has leaves irregularly striped with pale yellow that may fade to green in summer. ‘Berlin Giant’ is reported to be a large plant with excellent stems for cutting. ‘Bordeaux’ is a tall selection with 10-inch stems and large flowers favored for cutting. ‘Cream da Mint’, with large, sea-green leaves edged in citron-yellow, “came as a sport from some stock plants that I left un- attended,” says Rick Sawyer of Fernwood Nursery and Gardens. “Then, within two years, ‘Fernwood Golden Slippers’—with bright yellow foliage—appeared as a sport of ‘Cream da Mint’ and is true to form.” Its leaves fade to chartreuse as the season progresses. ‘Flore Pleno’ (‘Plena’) is exceptional, with fully double, cream-colored flowers. ‘Fortin’s Giant’ has large flowers on scapes 12 to 15 inches tall and is favored for cutting. ‘Hardwick Hall’ is a standout. Richard Fraser of Fraser’s Thimble Farm notes the “lovely blue-green leaves with a creamy-white trim around the edge and the sweetly fragrant racemes make nice cut flowers. It is a well-behaved spreader with a stable leaf variegation.” ‘Potsdam Stripe’ is similar to ‘Aureovariegata’ but has regular, bold stripes and seldom reverts. ‘Prolificans’ produces flowers that are densely clustered, making them appear double. ‘Rosea’ (C. majalis var. rosea) has pale metallic-pink flowers and an open habit. Additional named selections include ‘Albomarginata’, ‘Albostriata’, ‘Dorien’, ‘Haldon Grange’, ‘Hofheim’, ‘Silberconfolis’, ‘Touch of Lemon’, and ‘Vic Pawlowski’s Gold’. —C.C.B. ‘Flore‘Flore Pleno’Pleno’ ‘Hardwick‘Hardwick Hall’Hall’ ‘Rosea’‘Rosea’ dense colonies. Their aggressive habit has tion dating to the 1400s. Variable in size and Japanese lily of the valley (C. keiskei, obliged some states, including Virginia, stature, this species is found in woods, scrub Zones 5–9) is native to China, Japan, Ko- Wisconsin and Alaska, to add this plant and meadows throughout Europe and into rea, and Mongolia, where it grows in for- to their invasive species lists. Many of the Northeast Asia, Greece and the Caucasus ests, shaded slopes and woodland edges. named cultivars spread less vigorously. and is widely planted in North America. Similar in appearance to the European Currently, botanists recognize three Mature foliage stands 8 to 10 inches high species, the leaves are narrower and of thin species of Convallaria, one native to and each blade is 4 to 10 inches long. Flow- texture. The plants I have grown seem North America, and the others to Eurasia. ering scapes may reach 10 inches, but most smaller and less vigorous, though some There are several varieties within those are shorter. In 1993, the Royal Horticultural references refer to its larger stature. They species and botanists still debate how to Society bestowed an Award of Garden Merit reach 8 to 10 inches tall, with blades on- classify them. to this species for its outstanding garden per- ly 8 inches long. You may find cultivars Convallaria majalis (USDA Zones 2–8) formance. [Descriptions of a number of the from specialty nurseries and collectors is by far the most familiar and commonly available selections of this species can be seen including ‘Snow Chimes’ with a white grown species, with records of its cultiva- in the box above.] edge on its green leaves and ‘Soft Stripes’ LEFT AND RIGHT: GRAHAM RICE, GARDENPHOTOS.COM. CENTER: DOREEN WYNJA 20 the American Gardener PROPAGATING LILY OF THE VALLEY n Sow clean seed outdoors or in an unheated cold frame as soon as it is ripe. n Germination, particularly of stored seed is slow, taking two to 12 months. Sow thinly so that the seedlings have room to grow undisturbed in the pot for their first year. n Apply liquid feed during the grow- ing season to ensure that the seed- lings are well fed. n Divide the young plants into indi- vidual pots when they die down in late summer. Grow them on in pots in a shady location in a cold frame for at least another year before planting them into their permanent positions. n Lily of the valley is easily divided in early autumn when the vegeta- tive shoots go dormant. Dig up the clumps and tease or break apart the thick rhizomes. Replant immediately in amended soil or bulk them up in a propagation bed until they are well rooted before replanting. —C.C.B. mus-rich, neutral to moderately acidic soils that stay consistently moist. Estab- lished plants tolerate moderate drought but go dormant if dryness is chronic. Hardiness of most Asian species is largely untested, so experiment at both ends of the spectrum. In warmer zones, consis- tent moisture is key to success. Happily, Lily of the valley pairs especially well in a woodland garden with many shade-loving ferns, plants are rabbit and deer resistant. such as Japanese beech fern (Phegopteris decursive-pinnata). Lily of the valley is excellent for mass- ing under shrubs and flowering trees. In (or “Splashed Variegated”) which sports and West Virginia, south to Kentucky his southern Indiana garden, former nurs- diffuse creamy striations throughout the and Georgia. Plants generally grow in eryman Gene Bush uses lily of the valley foliage, giving it a frosted look. summer-dry soils under oaks. Eminently in a challenging site under a mature sugar American lily of the valley (C. garden-worthy, this species is found in maple, with shade one side, sun the oth- pseudomajalis, also known as C. majuscula, few plant catalogs and no selections have er, root competition and nutrient-poor Zones 5–8) is endemic to the Appalachian been named. soil. “Nothing we tried truly looked ‘right’ Mountains of the eastern United States. until we began using lily of the valley,” This is an overall larger and more erect IN THE GARDEN he says. “They rapidly filled in the allot- species, with deep to sea green foliage 8 to All Convallaria species favor abundant ted space between roots forming a circle 20 inches tall and upright inflorescences spring sunshine and protection from around the base of the tree.” In Fernwood to 12 inches. Plants form open colonies burning rays in summer. Plants toler- Nursery’s display garden at their facili- of evenly spaced scapes on acid montane ate deep shade and root competition but ties in Maine, Rick Sawyer combines the slopes near the tops of well-drained may flower sparsely in those conditions. chartreuse foliage of lily of the valley cul- DOREEN WYNJA ridges and in sandy woods from Virginia Lily of the valley thrives in average to hu- tivar ‘Fernwood’s Golden Slippers’ with March / April 2021 21 hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) for Maine Botanical Gardens that intermingles a much admired combination that offers Sources ‘Fernwood Golden Slippers’ and ‘Cream white flowers in spring, red fruit, and then Far Reaches Farm, Port Townsend, da Mint’, whose complementary foliage maroon foliage in the fall.