With their whimsical , chime - mold flower andlovely , sweet-flavored scent , lily of the valley flowers can make for a beloved fixture in any springtime garden . A gorgeous ground cover , the lily of the valley plant is easy to give care for . Still , if you ’re unexampled to these quaint blossom , you might be marvel how to plant and farm them . To facilitate you get started , we ’ve compiled this comprehensive guide on lily of the vale tending .
What is the lily of the valley plant?
Native to Asia and Europe , lily of the vale ( Convallaria majalis ) boast quarter - inch , down - facing blooms with thick , ovate leaves . Technically part of the asparagus family , it ’s normally regain in moist soil in mountain forests , but it ’s now naturalise as a garden flower or bouquet filler .
The sweetly odorous white-hot flower issue on short stalks around springtime , spread through rootstalk in the ground . The plant can sometimes produce ruby berries , but keep in judgement that all voice of it are toxic — you shouldkeep an eye on rummy petsand kids .
How to plant lily of the valley
When growing lily of the vale plants , you ’ll usually be working with rootstock called pips . Sometimes , you may see pre - cool down radar target that have beenforced to bloom during the winter , just in time for the holiday . unremarkably available around October or November , you may implant them in December for them to get in during the holidays or late winter . Once potted , pre - cool down pips can take as little as three weeks to flower .
Lily of the vale prime can be quite simple to plant , whether you keep them in a container or grow them in the reason — they can adapt to most soils . Because they ’re toxic to ingest and potentially irritating to touch , be sure tohandle them with gloves .
measure 1 : Set your garden land in a container or efflorescence bottom of your choice . Ideally , you desire a cool , partially shaded area to set your pips down .
stone’s throw 2 : primed clustering of radar target 1 to 2 feet apart and individual pips 4 to 5 inches apart in the ground .
pace 3 : Top snip your soil with 2 to 3 inch of a mulch , such as wood poker chip .
stride 4 : After your lily of the vale plants have bloomed , you may pick the spot and keep them in plastic bags to repot again during the wintertime .
How to care for lily of the valley
Lily of the valley plants are actually quite humiliated sustainment . In fact , some people even consider them strong-growing , if not invasive , growers in their garden — they ’re fairly resistant to most pest and diseases . Here are a few round-eyed concern top to keep your lily of the valley happy .
Soil : Lily of the valley plants do best in well - draining , slightly acidic soil that’srich in constitutional affair . That enunciate , they ’re extremely adaptable to unlike types of ground .
lachrymation : Your dirt should be moist but never soggy . Lily of the valley flowers also like normal humidity stratum , so you may have difficulty originate them in dry consideration . Mulch will help with water retention .
firing : Lily of the vale plants appreciate lightness but reallydo best in fond shade . In warm area , you may even want to give your works full shade , if potential .
Temperature : Lily of the valley efflorescence are dauntless to climate zone 2 to 7 , so they fare well in mild , coolheaded temperatures around 60 to 70 degree Fahrenheit . If you be in a warm climate zone , they may do well as indoor plant life .
Feeding : you could add compost or manure to your filth when growing it , but you generally do n’t need to bung your lily of the valley . you may also add a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 slow - release fertilizer into the land once or twice throughout the growing time of year — 1 tablespoon per square foot should be sufficient .
Pruning : You do n’t need to rationalize lily of the valley , as its dead foliage can make a mulch for it . Still , you may cut about a quarter of an column inch above where the blossom stalking connects to the main flora to maintain a tidy look . Because this plant raise aggressively , you may also divide its stem in spring or fall to thin out colonies and promote rosiness .
Different ways to incorporate lily of the valley into your home garden
Because of their delicate blooms , lily of the valley plants can easily bestow a capricious charm to your home garden . As fast bloomers , they look beautiful growing as fertile ground cover beneath trees or shrub — out in their native habitats , you ’ll find them growing beneathlush ghost trees .
you’re able to also grow them against Union - facing walls to keep them away from too much harsh light . Just make indisputable that wherever you grow them , there ’s not too much foot traffic to damage their long parting . If you have pets or pull the leg of around , it may be a good musical theme tokeep them in hanging basketsor high , out - of - range sphere .
For small-scale but eye - catching blooms , tot lily of the vale blooms into your home garden this spring . The only thing to keep in mind is that lily of the vale is toxic , so protect your hand with gloves and keep the flowers by from your fur infant and footling unity . When it amount to the literal plant maintenance , growing lily of the valley only takes a small effort on your part , as you could easily domesticate this kickshaw , sweet - smell bloom that spreads prolifically on its own .
