May lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant of the Asparagaceae family (lat. Asparagaceae), which is listed in the Red Book. Latin name- Convallaria majalis. Other names for lily of the valley are forest bell, convalia, lily of the valley, eye grass, field lily, rejuvenator.
What does it look like
To better understand what lily of the valley looks like, here’s botanical description plants and show you what the May lily of the valley looks like in the photo. This herbaceous plant reaches a height of 30 cm.
The rhizome of lily of the valley is long, thin, creeping. Numerous shoots extend from the main root. There are pale leaves at the base of the plant.
The shoots are shortened. The plant has two, rarely three, whole broadly lanceolate leaves, between which there is a flowering stem.
The racemose inflorescence of lily of the valley consists of 6-20 pale yellow or white flowers, similar to bells. At the base of the inflorescence there are more large flowers. They become smaller towards the top. Lily of the valley blooms from May to June.
The fruits are spherical bright red or orange-scarlet berries, up to 8 mm in diameter. They contain one to two round seeds. Lily of the valley berries ripen from June to July.
We have described the appearance of lily of the valley. Now we’ll tell you where lily of the valley grows, what climate and soil it prefers.
Where does it grow?
Lily of the valley grass prefers a temperate climate, so the plant is found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in forests, clearings and forest edges with well-moistened soil.
Lily of the valley is distributed throughout Europe, North America, the Caucasus, China and Asia Minor. In Russia, the plant is found in the European part of the country, in Crimea, Transbaikalia and Far East.
Chemical composition of the plant
The chemical composition has been studied very carefully. All parts of the flower, including the fruits of the lily of the valley, contain cardiac-type glycosides:
- convallotoxol
- convallotoxin
- convalloside
- vallarotoxin
- convaloxin
It also contains:
- essential oil
- asparagine
- citric and malic acids
- saponins, sugar
- flavonoids
Popular name
Thanks to their unusual shape and delicate aroma, lilies of the valley are one of the most popular flowers that have long been loved by people. It is not surprising that people gave this plant a variety of affectionate nicknames, reflecting not only its external characteristics, but also beneficial properties which it possesses. Here are just a few of these names that have survived to this day: May lily; field lily; forest bell; forest language; dog tongue; hare salt; bunny ears; May Day; young; rejuvenator; myt grass; eye grass; culprit; shirt; lily of the valley; smoothie; meadow cherry; Voronets; lumbago; silversmith; snow droplets; Mary's bells.
Did you know? It is noteworthy that the modern Latin name of the plant has been preserved since the time of the Swedish naturalist and physician Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), who, in turn, modified the ancient Roman name of the flower - lily of the valleys (lilium convallium). And in English, Danish, Spanish and some other languages, lily of the valley is still literally called the lily of the valleys (Lily of the Valley, Lirio de los Valles, etc.). No less interesting are the names given to the plant by other peoples. For example: among Bulgarians, lily of the valley is “the tears of a girl”; among the Czechs - “bun”; among the Germans - “May bell”; among the Poles - “doe’s ear” (due to the leaf shape similar to the doe’s ear); among the French and Italians - “thrush” (respectively, muguet and mughetto).
FORCING LILY OF THE MAY
You can admire lily of the valley not only in May, but at any time of the year, as it is easy to force. In autumn, rhizomes of garden lilies of the valley with well-developed flower buds are selected. In appearance, such a bud is blunt-ended, thick, directed upward from the rhizome. Forest lilies of the valley are not very suitable for forcing, as they produce small flowers or no flowers at all
For forcing, the rhizomes of May lilies of the valley are dug up in the garden after the first autumn frosts. It is more convenient to do this with a pitchfork, then the earth wakes up through the teeth. The central flower buds (they are thick and blunt) are separated from the lateral vegetative ones; the largest of them are taken for early forcing, the rest - for more late dates. Place them head to head, tie them into bundles of 25–30 pieces and trim all the roots by about a third. Before planting for forcing, rhizomes are buried vertically in sand or peat in boxes and stored in greenhouses or a cool room. Plants selected for early forcing are lightly moistened from time to time; with the onset of cold weather, they are transferred to the basement after a short freezing at a temperature of minus 5–6 °C. Freezing makes forcing easier and promotes more abundant flowering. During storage in the basement, rhizomes should not be watered. 
The first forcing can begin in December. The roots of rhizomes taken for planting are cut off, leaving them 12 cm long, and immersed for 12–16 hours in water at a temperature of plus 32–35 °C. This speeds up flowering by 6–8 days. After the bath, the rhizomes are planted in pots with a diameter of 10–12 cm, 5–6 each, or in boxes of 25–30 pieces with a mixture of peat, turf land and moss, cover with moss on top, place in a dark place with a temperature of 25–30 °C and spray frequently warm water. Here they should be until the buds appear. In room conditions, such a temperature can be created only by installing lilies of the valley near a heat source. You can darken it with caps made of black paper or an empty pot overturned on top. By the time large flower shoots form, the plants are exposed to light, and normal flowering begins. The forcing lasts 25 days. Blooming lilies of the valley can be moved to a cool place: they will bloom longer.
The quality of inflorescences when forced in December can be improved additional lighting. Lamps daylight suspended above the plants at a height of 30 cm at the rate of 50 watts per square meter. The lighting is done from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 10 p.m. In this case, the leaves are colored more intensely, and the flower stalks are stronger.
For forcing after January 15 planting material Do not treat with warm water, otherwise the leaves will grow strongly to the detriment of flowering. Lilies of the valley are taken from the room where they were stored and planted immediately. Maintain a temperature of 25 °C, from February – 20–22 °C. Closer to spring, reduce the duration of darkening. On bright sunny days, light darkening is required. Flowering occurs in 18–20 days. Lilies of the valley used in forcing are not suitable for further cultivation.
Features of growing lilies of the valley
Location: unpretentious. It feels great among bushes, in clearings with some shading, and with strong shade it blooms weakly.
Soil: Requires well-cultivated, organic-rich soil. Drought-resistant, but shrinks on dry soils. It grows in one place for up to 10 years.
Care: It is recommended to cover lilies of the valley with rotted manure or compost, and also feed them with liquid organic and mineral fertilizers (in August). During the summer in dry weather it is necessary to water. The area occupied by lilies of the valley is kept loose and free of weeds. Lily of the valley is a frost-resistant plant and does not require shelter.
Temperature: Lily of the valley is resistant to cold weather.
Watering: Water regularly and intensively to keep the soil moist all the time. Lily of the valley is very moisture-loving and does not tolerate overdrying.
Transplantation: Transplanted to a new place in the spring no more than once every 2-3 years, depending on the degree of development of the plant’s rhizome.
Maintenance appearance
: It is enough to remove damaged parts of plants. 
Reproduction of lilies of the valley
August is the time for propagation of lilies of the valley by dividing rhizomes. A planting unit (sprout) of lily of the valley should consist of a section of rhizome with roots and one (or several) apical buds. Sprouts aged 1-2 years are used for vegetative propagation of lilies of the valley; three-year-old sprouts will delight you with flowering next spring. Lilies of the valley grow wonderfully in loose, breathable, moisture-retaining, nutritious soil in partial shade.
On a well-warmed spring sun In an area cleared of snow early under the crown of trees or near bushes, a wide (about 20 cm) fence is dug in to limit the spread of underground branching rhizomes of lilies of the valley throughout the area, inside which weeds are being weeded, drainage from branches is arranged (if there is a danger of water stagnation), compost is added, leaf soil, rotted manure. After shortening the thin roots, lily of the valley sprouts are placed horizontally in holes about 15 cm deep at a distance of 10 cm from each other, the holes are filled up fertile soil and mulched with leaf humus (the apical buds should be covered with 1-2 cm from above).
Lilies of the valley can also be planted in spring; Sprouts dug up in the fall are stored in a frost-free, cool room at a temperature of 1-2 degrees. The largest sprouts can be used for early forcing of lilies of the valley in pots for the holidays - in a cool room, protected from direct sun rays, they will bloom for about a month.
Planting lilies of the valley
It is better to prepare the soil for planting lilies of the valley in advance, a year before planting or in the spring. The treated soil layer should be deep enough (25-30 cm). Lilies of the valley prefer well-drained, light or medium loamy, moist, cool, slightly acidic soils (pH 5), but they also grow well in neutral ones. Strongly acidic soil is limed in advance (200-300 lime per 1 m²). In addition to lime, add up to 10 kg of manure, humus or peat compost, 100 g of simple superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate per the same m². In summer, it is better to keep the area fallow, preventing it from becoming overgrown with weeds, or occupy it with legumes (peas, beans, beans), which must be removed in the fall, leaving roots in the soil. Before planting lilies of the valley, the soil is loosened and grooves 15 cm deep are prepared.
The planting material for lilies of the valley is sprouts with a piece of rhizome and root lobe. Depending on their age, they vary in diameter and bear either a flower bud or only leaf buds. Approximately, we can assume that shoots with a diameter of more than 0.6 cm and a rounded top will bloom in the first year, while those with a diameter less than this and with a pointed top will produce only leaves. Lilies of the valley are planted at such a depth that the roots do not bend and the sprouts are covered with 1-2 cm of soil.
The sprouts are planted in grooves in rows. The distance between sprouts is 10 cm, between rows - 20-25 cm. Lilies of the valley planted in this way can be kept in one place for at least 5 years. If the soil is dry, the plantings must be watered properly. 
Diseases and pests
The most common fungal disease is gray rot vegetable crops(Botrytis dnerea), which covers, quickly spreading, leaves and flowers. It is eliminated by treatment with fungicides.
Another disease is Gloeosporium convallariae, which causes red-edged spots and wounds on the leaves. Appearance yellow spots causes dendronema of lily of the valley. Both can be treated with appropriate fungicidal agents.
Of the insects, sawflies, which gnaw leaves, cause great harm. In this case, plants are treated with appropriate insecticides.
The roots of lilies of the valley are damaged by nematodes. Their appearance can only be prevented (by treating the soil with nematicides or planting several marigolds nearby). If the plant is affected, it is immediately removed.
Lily of the valley, delicate, fragrant, is one of the favorite flowers, the appearance of which everyone looks forward to in the spring. After the lovely bells of the lily of the valley have faded, the moist shady corners of the garden are decorated with a cover of their large light green leaves and orange fruits. It is not surprising that gardeners are happy to grow a variety of lilies of the valley in the garden - silver-white and pink, simple and double.
Use in medicine
The medicinal properties of these plants have long been known. They provide more than 30 cardiac glycosides, convallotoxin, convallotoxol and others. This is due to the presence of glycosides throughout the flower. The flower also contains other elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, cobalt, etc.), which are very necessary. Because it contains essential oil, aspirin, and household acids.
The main use of lily of the valley in pharmacology is that it has a positive effect on vascular, abdominal and other diseases. Blood circulation becomes much better, heart function normalizes, pain and spasms are relieved. They also help normalize liver function.
Those drugs that contain this herb have a positive effect, improving the quality of heart function, but reducing the number of strokes. Acts almost like an analgesic, relieving spasms and pain. It is also used against diseases such as thyroid disorders, central nervous system disorders and fever.
External use of this plant is most often to reduce back and lower back pain. This material is collected on dry days, but after the dew has disappeared. Next comes the preparation of the ground part, but the berries are not included in the preparation. The cut should be at a distance of up to 4 cm from the surface of the ground.
Drying should be done in a ventilated place, with a temperature of about 45%. Also, drying should be done on the same day, otherwise the plant will gradually die. The fruits themselves, both rhizomes and seeds, are poisonous. Therefore, at home, without knowing the proportions, it is better to cook a little more.
Contraindications
Since the plant is poisonous, it must be used with caution. In case of overdose, it causes vomiting, slows down the work of the heart and central nervous system. These medications should not be used by people who have the above, as well as by those who have a pathological condition. The heart muscles start from the weakest. But there are some diseases, for example, gastrointestinal tract who are very sensitive to certain products.
You should also not self-medicate - a referral for examination, treatment and a prescription can be obtained from your attending physician. But if poisoning does occur, it is necessary to perform gastric lavage.
Use of lily of the valley
We discussed the medicinal characteristics of this plant above. Many drugs are available only with a doctor's prescription. As a form of prevention, concentrates based on this herb are used in organic quantities. This includes actions to treat the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Special drops are made online.
But among the useful ones that are not available by prescription, we can highlight a good and aromatic flavoring oil, which has a positive effect on physical and brain activity, as well as on other activities. Acts as a pain reliever, but weak. Traditional medicine presents a list of what it does based on this drug. With its help, lily of the valley and its derivatives help with vision, blood circulation and rheumatism. This drug is also useful for people with allergies, with swelling or people who have a fever.
One of the most common products based on wild lily of the valley is an infusion. The recipe is very simple, you only need boiling water and flowers. It is done as follows: take 5 grams of lilies of the valley in a vessel with a capacity of half a liter and pour boiling water for 45 minutes. Drink one spoon a day.
One of the advantages I would like to note is that it relieves cramps and fatigue. Folk recipe An infusion for heart pain is prepared as follows. To do this, you need a three-liter jar, into which a third of the infusion of mountain flowers is poured. Drink 12-14 drops three times a day, regardless of what you eat. For conjunctivitis, this particular solution is taken with a ratio of 1 to 10.
There is also a traditional medicine aimed at treating diseases of the cardiovascular system. To do this, take dried hawthorn flowers, wild carrot seeds, fresh buds of lily of the valley (field) and motherwort. They are mixed in the following sequence: 2.1.2.1. After this, the vessel is filled with water (1) and vodka (5), after which it is infused for two weeks, and then strained. After this, the decoction is ready for use; you need to drip 22 - 24 drops, but into a glass of water (100 ml).
If there is a problem with the eye associated with damage to the optic nerves, as well as the retina, then traditional medicine advises making a decoction of our culture and nettles (oddly enough, the same as May nettle), but the ratio will be 1 to 5. The preparation process is very simple: prepare the product itself (raw materials), then add a spoonful of liquid and leave for 6 hours. After this, the herb is mixed with soda, but in gauze and applied to the eyes 2 times a day. Use healing properties lily of the valley and for better functioning of one of the critical systems our body - endocrine. Therefore, for its better functioning, certain herbs are collected: lily of the valley, parsley, cocklebur. Then the solution is poured with boiling water and the time goes on for 15 minutes. When the decoction is ready, drink it three times a day half an hour before meals.
Many useful substances must go to aqueous solution. Out of 10 drinks, each one requires a glass of water and a lid. If you have neurosis, then you should brew other herbs: take one tablespoon with dry herbs, after which it is all filled with soda. They drink this three times a day, albeit from a spoon. In general, lily of the valley brews perfectly like regular tea, without sacrificing quality.
Tincture
Some experts (nutritionists, fitness doctors) talk about an excellent alcohol tincture of lilies of the valley. This clear liquid, which is khaki in color but closer to brown. It will taste very bitter, and the aroma will be very specific. This tincture is highly recommended for disorders of the cardiovascular system, as well as for rapid pulse (over 90 beats per minute).
In addition, it is great for depression and insomnia. After taking this tincture you will want to be happy and sleepy. This product is quite easily sold in almost any pharmacy. Doctors prescribe this drug 25-35 drops, strictly 3 times a day. In different situations and cases, in addition to the infusion, you also need to take additional medications that will help remove harmful toxins from the body much faster. An example is the famous valerian, belladonna and others.
Currently, enterprises specializing in the production of pharmaceutical products produce drops, the basis of which is actually an alcohol tincture of lily of the valley:
- Drops of lily of the valley and valerian, where the ratio is 1 to 1;
- Drops of lily of the valley and valerian, but with adoniside. Ratio 1 to 1 to 1;
- Drops of lily of the valley and valerian, but with sodium bromide. The ratio is 1 to 1, and the bromide content is 8.5%;
- Drops of lily of the valley and motherwort, and the ratio is the same, 1 to 1.
Application in cosmetology
Cosmetologists actively use not all parts of the lily of the valley, but lily of the valley oil, which impresses with a fresh, cool, subtle aroma, incomparable to any other. Lily of the valley essential oil is added to cosmetics that can restore skin and hair tone, improve microcirculation, strengthen capillary walls, and relieve congestion.
Creams, balms, tonics and other cosmetic products are saturated with oil. The result of using cosmetics is visible: with oil, the skin becomes softer and well-groomed, beautifully smooth and clean.
Recipe for a mask for dry hair: mix one yolk, 50 ml of honey, 5 ml of lily of the valley essential oil, then apply the mixture to the hair, from roots to ends, cover the head with plastic for 15 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm water and shampoo.
After this procedure, hair gains elasticity and shine. Toner recipe for dry skin: add 100 ml of aloe juice, 2 drops of lily of the valley oil to 30 ml of freshly brewed green tea. This tonic is applied to the face before bed, every day.
The smell of lily of the valley in perfumery
Lily of the valley is a highly sought after scent on the perfume market. It has a very delicate and elegant aroma, with notes of freshness and the scent of living nature. With this scent it is very convenient to create different perfume palettes and compositions.
Unfortunately, until now the natural scent of lily of the valley has not been obtained, therefore all these scents are a synthetic copy of the original, which, by the way, is in no way inferior. And the impossibility of obtaining natural aroma associated with the extremely low derivative of essential oil from lily of the valley, which makes it impossible to extract ester from it.
Modern perfumers have learned to handle the synthesized aroma of lily of the valley so much that perfumes with this base are in demand in the elite circles of our society!
Application in landscape design
The lily of the valley has taken root so much in the culture of European society, including in Russia, that not a single park or square can do without this plant. After all, it requires almost no maintenance, but looks very presentable. They decorate all kinds of flower beds, mixing them with other flowers, making intricate patterns and other objects of decorative aesthetic beauty.
Of course, this lily of the valley is not wild and is specially grown and crossed, obtaining unusual colors and combinations. For example, pale purple flowers, which can decorate not only the holiday of citizens, but also the leisure facility itself, for example, a park. But it would seem that they bloom for only a month and that’s it – and they’re not needed. But that’s not the case, almost all year it will be beautiful, low and dense bushes, which, as a rule, are lined near sidewalks and paths and create the feeling that everything around is absolutely green!
Planting wild lilies of the valley is very ineffective due to the fact that they are of a certain color, length and character. They bloom in May, but garden ones, artificially grown, can bloom, say, in August. The main thing is that it is warm. And garden ones are much easier to combine with other plants growing in the flowerbed.
They go well with ferns, when out of season they hide with it, with peonies, making the visual appearance of the flower bed unforgettable. But it is important to remember that there are not many flowers in the flowerbed next to the lilies of the valley. After all, these beautiful forest bells grow quite quickly, capturing new territories and even displacing other flowers. That’s why even in parks and squares next to lilies of the valley there is a dividing underground wall, half a meter long.
And if you plant lilies of the valley near trees, for example, larch or linden, you will get a wonderful corner of living, even wild nature. But if you gave your loved one a bouquet of fresh, just picked lilies of the valley, you better make sure that there will be no other flowers in the vase nearby, otherwise the lilies of the valley will deprive them, drinking all the water and poisoning the neighbors unpleasant odors. This smell can give a person a headache or make them feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
But the best solution will make a flower bed of lilies of the valley in your dacha - after all, in this way you will get a wonderful corner of almost wild nature, the crown of which will be flowers from the Red Book!
Lilies of the valley are perennial plants, which begin flowering in late spring. They have beautiful white or slightly pinkish flowers with a very pleasant and rich aroma. Several varieties of these plants have now been developed. Their advantage is that they do not require specific care or special conditions; lilies of the valley also reproduce quite quickly. That is why many people plant these cute and delicate flowers in their gardens.
How to plant lilies of the valley and how to properly care for them?
It is recommended to plant these flowering plants in those parts of the garden where their aroma will be immediately noticeable. The most suitable may be gazebos and garden paths. It is very important to restrain the growth of lilies of the valley, especially important if you decide to plant them near cemented paths and gazebos. Plants have very strong and powerful roots, which can lead to cracking of the coating. Even when lilies of the valley fade, they will still retain their decorative properties, thanks to their beautiful green leaves.
Culture refers to those plants that do not like proximity to others. But it can still be cultivated in joint plantings with species whose roots are located close to the surface of the earth and which reproduce using tendrils or layering. The following plants are ideal for planting together with lilies of the valley: jasmine, aquilegia, tenacious, zelenchuk. Planted nearby they will create a beautiful picture of forest herbs. When growing lilies of the valley, you do not have to spend a lot of effort; they do not require painstaking care and a lot of time. The main thing is to plant them in the right time and you can forget about flowers for a long time. Even in abandoned areas without regular watering and care, they grow and reproduce beautifully for many years. But still, if you want your plants to be healthy, bloom beautifully and profusely, then when planting and caring for them you should follow certain rules.
The choice of location is very important stage when planting any crop, and lilies of the valley are no exception. Since these flowers are forest flowers, they love moisture and shade. You need to plant lilies of the valley where they grow various trees and shrubs. They tolerate shading well, unlike other garden plants. ornamental plants, and will decorate your garden where other flowers do not grow well. But you should not plant lilies of the valley in dense shade if you want them to bloom.
Plants do not like wind, especially strong wind. Therefore, they are not recommended to be planted in well-ventilated areas. Lilies of the valley growing in the wind most likely will not bloom. The place where these flowers need to be grown should be protected from the wind by powerful trees or dense bushes, a building wall or a fence.
Plants are propagated by rhizomes. They grow well on the site without human help. After flowering, lilies of the valley produce small red fruits with seeds, but their method of propagation is unproductive. Although sometimes new specimens grow as a result of self-seeding.
How to replant lilies of the valley and curb their growth?
It is advisable not to replant lilies of the valley too often; they do not like it. Ideally, they should be planted immediately in a place where they will grow for several years. It is advisable to transfer to a new site in the autumn, namely in September or October. The soil must be prepared in advance; it must be dug deep and fertilized with humus and mineral fertilizers.
For planting, it is necessary to select rhizomes that already have buds or leaves in their infancy. When planting, you need to ensure that the roots do not bend. The sprouts need to be sprinkled 1-2 cm with loose and moist soil. Lily of the valley should be planted in rows, maintaining a distance of 10 cm between bushes, and 20 cm between rows.
Delicate and fragile at first glance, the plant has strong and powerful roots that can penetrate 40 cm into the soil and completely entwine the upper layers of the earth. If you want to grow a lot in your flowerbed and garden different types flowers, lilies of the valley will have to be restrained in growth and reproduction. The simplest thing you can do is to fence the area with lilies of the valley with iron, slate or similar materials. Moreover, the fence should go deep 50 cm or more.
Features of caring for lilies of the valley in open ground
When the newly planted plants take root, they will need to be fed with humus or other fertilizers. organic fertilizers. Rooting occurs 25-30 days after planting. IN mineral fertilizers The plant will only need it in its 2nd year of life.
It is very important to constantly maintain moisture in the soil in which lilies of the valley grow, but you should not over-water it. Excessive dampness in a flower bed is detrimental to any plants. There are very few weeds in a flower bed with lilies of the valley, because they survive the rest of the plants. But still, if there are weeds, pull them out by hand immediately after watering.
In addition to containing growth, you will sometimes have to thin out lily of the valley stands. It is optimal to do this procedure once every 2-3 years. If they grow too densely, flowering may stop or be significantly reduced. And instead of 12-14 flowers on 1 stem there will be only 2 or 3.
These flowers have very high frost resistance; they winter well without any shelter, even in very cold conditions. climatic zones. If you purchase selected varieties, pay attention to the recommendations for wintering.
If we talk about diseases, lilies of the valley are often affected by gray vegetable rot, which is easy to get rid of using special means- fungicides. You can buy them at gardening stores. Of the pests, flowers are often attacked by nematodes, onion rattles and sawflies. Sick plants must be destroyed immediately so that the disease is not transmitted to all other bushes.
Lily of the valley is very beautiful, but poisonous plant. Try to explain this to your children. Cases of poisoning are very common when children try the red berries of the crop, which look appetizing. In addition, flowers have a very strong smell, so it is not recommended to place them in the bedroom. But in a shady flowerbed, lilies of the valley have no equal in beauty! With growth inhibition and minimal care, this beautiful flower will delight you for many years.
Lilies of the valley – lilies of the valley, warm May greetings! Lines from a popular song. Their aroma and elegant appearance remind us of the arrival of spring. They grow in the forest and are listed in the Red Book. But you can plant them on your site and not worry about breaking the law by collecting a nice bouquet in your dacha. So, in this article we will talk about how to plant lilies of the valley. We hope that you will treat our information with attention.
Description of the plant
So, it’s not difficult to grow lilies of the valley in the country. You just need to follow some rules for growing them. Remember - lily of the valley is a forest plant, where it grows under trees, in the shade. Therefore, on the site, plant them near trees and bushes, they love moisture and do not like winds, bushes with trees will be for them reliably protected from the wind. The shade should also be in moderation; the plant will not grow in dense shade. Lilies of the valley also love clayey and loose soil, mixed with humus, sand and peat. So choose a place that is both warmed by the sun, but not constantly under its direct rays.
Lily of the valley is like an iceberg, despite its fragile top, it has very deep and powerful roots, they can even squeeze other plants out of the area. They go 40 centimeters deep. So it makes sense to plant them separately from others flowering plants, fencing their habitat boundary with slate, sheet iron or something else suitable, burying them to the same depth of 40 cm.
Let's talk about landing
Lilies of the valley are an amazing plant. This requires proper landing and the excellent care you will provide in open ground. It is better to plant a flower in the fall, in September, so that it has time to take root in a new place before the cold weather. It is necessary to dig up with caution, along with all the roots and dormant buds. Next, you need to divide them into segments of 3-6 cm, know that not all of them will bloom immediately in the spring; some of them will bloom only after a few seasons. In the meantime, try to find sprouts with buds that are ready to bloom in the coming spring; their buds will be full, straight and not very sharp at the ends.
Now you need to cut off the thin ends of the rhizomes. They can be planted in beds 10 cm apart and between beds keeping 20-25 cm. Before planting, the beds are dug deeply and humus is added. Then the prepared sprouts are placed in holes 3 cm deep. Try to arrange them without bending the rhizomes. You can fill it with 1-2 cm of fertile soil. You can, of course, plant lilies of the valley with seeds, but then the process of growth and flowering will be very delayed.
You can plant lilies of the valley and how houseplant, in flower pots. To do this, you need to put the rhizomes planted in pots in a cool room at a temperature of +2+4C. From the end of January, you can already move the pots to the windowsill under diffused sunlight. The leaves will slowly begin to appear. After a sufficient amount of them, you can fertilize the soil with humus. Then you can repeat this twice a month. But if you notice yellowing of the leaves, then moderate the watering. After flowering, put the pots back in a cool place.
Features of cultivation
This article could tell you about how to grow lilies of the valley in the country. These flowers grow and bloom well only if the soil is constantly moist. Leaves damaged by pests must be immediately destroyed. Any fungicide will cope with gray rot of vegetables if it has attacked. And only high-quality planting and timely care will help preserve plants from diseases.
No replanting in the best possible way affects lilies of the valley, so it is advisable to plant them once and for all. When arranging bouquets, you must remember that for other flowers their smell will be toxic, and they cannot stand the proximity of lilies of the valley, place them in a separate bouquet.
General description of a plant with fragrant flowers, agricultural technology for cultivating lily of the valley, propagation rules, problems with cultivation, interesting facts, types.
Contents of the article:
Lily of the valley (Convallaria) is a monotypic or oligotypic (containing a small number of species) genus of monocotyledonous plants in which the embryo contains only one cotyledon. Scientists classify these representatives of the flora as belonging to the Asparagaceae family. The natural habitat of all varieties of lily of the valley is in Europe, the Caucasus and Asia Minor; they can also be found in China and North America, where a temperate climate prevails. Today the plant is listed in the Red Book and is considered rare.
The scientific name was given to the genus of these plants by Carl Linnaeus, who was involved in the classification of all flora planet known at that time. Based on this, the lily of the valley was called in Latin “Lilium convallium”, which translated as “lily of the valleys” or “lily growing in the valley” and previously the plant was classified as a member of the Liliaceae family. In English it sounded like “Lily of the Valley.” And the Russian name “lily of the valley” was most likely borrowed from the Polish language - “lanuszka”. This is due to the appearance of the plant’s leaves, which with their pointed tops resemble the ears of a timid deer. Other names for this plant are: May lily, convalia, lilies of the valley, chemise, young, as well as rejuvenator or culprit, doe’s ear, forest tongue and many others.
Lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant with a vertical rhizome. From it originate 3–5 lower leaves with scaly outlines, small in size and sheaths in the form of closed tubes. They are usually colored brown, dark purple or light greenish. These leaves are almost always hidden under the soil surface. Also, the tip of the rhizome is the place from which a pair, but occasionally three, basal leaf blades grow. They have an oval-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical shape. The surface of the leaves is smooth, their color is rich, juicy green. There is a point at the tops and arcuate venation runs along the entire length (when the veins run from the very base to the apex).
Between these leaves at the top of the rhizome there is one large bud. It is this that gives rise to one single stem of lily of the valley, which can reach 15–30 cm in height. But in some garden forms this parameter reaches up to half a meter. The peduncle is devoid of leaves, but sometimes there are specimens in which thread-like leaves are located under the inflorescences.
The formation of leaves from vertical lily of the valley rhizomes is annual, and the flowering process can occur 2–3 times a year. Lily of the valley begins to bloom for the first time when the plant is 7 years old, but by 10–12 years the plant loses the ability to form a flowering stem. Over time, rhizomes placed horizontally rot and the entire root system begins to disintegrate into individual specimens.
In early May, just above the middle of the herbaceous flowering stem, the lily of the valley begins to form an inflorescence in the form of a brush. It may contain 6–20 flowers, drooping in shape. The flowers have a strong fragrant aroma. The long pedicels have a bend and membranous bracts. Since the stem has a spiral twist, all the flowers seem to “look” in one direction, despite the fact that the pedicels originate from different sides of the flower arrow, which has three sides.
The perianth of the lily of the valley has six teeth, its color is snow-white or pale pinkish. With its outlines it resembles a miniature bell. Inside it there are 6 short and thick stamens, which are crowned with elongated yellow anthers. The flowers have no nectaries and can only attract insects with their strong scent. But if there are no insects, the plant is capable of self-pollinating.
After flowering, a berry with a pair of rounded seeds inside ripens, the color of the fruit is red-orange.
Agricultural technology for growing lily of the valley, caring for a personal plot
- Lighting. The plant is not demanding of natural conditions; it is not afraid of frost, but it suffers from drafts. It is preferable to plant lilies of the valley in slight shade from the foliage of trees and shrubs. But we must remember that doe’s ear will not bloom in strong shade. If the place is chosen well (there is shade and coolness), then flowering can last for 5 weeks.
- Preliminary preparation before landing carried out in the form of digging up the soil (to a depth of 25 cm), fertilize it with manure, but not fresh, but already rotted. Instead of such fertilizer, peat-humus compost is used. It is recommended to guess the time for planting lily of the valley in the autumn or early spring. After planting, the lily of the valley must be watered vigorously until it takes root. It is important to ensure that summer period the area was not overgrown with weeds.
- Planting in autumn (beginning and middle) carried out after loosening the soil. The rows are formed at a distance of 20–25 cm from each other with a depth of up to 15 cm. The interval between plants is about 10 cm. The roots should not be bent. Sprinkle with soil to a depth of 1–2 cm. After planting, the lilies of the valley are well watered. At the first frost, plants are covered with mulch.
- Planting in spring suggests that such plants will not bloom this year and will be sickly. The soil is prepared in the fall. After planting, it is recommended to mulch the beds with lilies of the valley immediately. It is recommended to pour a thin layer of humus or peat chips on top. At night, they also cover with film to protect against frost.
- Fertilizers for lilies of the valley are introduced after a month after planting - using rotted organic matter. Mineral supplements not used during this period. For 2-3 years, to increase the decorative properties, the lily of the valley needs to be fed with organic preparations that contain a small nitrogen content. This operation is carried out in April - 50–70 grams of fertilizer per 1 m2 are applied. The next feeding is carried out at the beginning of summer, when the lily of the valley begins to lay flower buds and then its flowers will become larger.
- lime up to 200–300 grams;
- humus up to 10 kg;
- potassium sulfate and superphosphate (40 grams and 100 grams, respectively).
How to propagate lily of the valley yourself?
Lily of the valleys can be propagated by cuttings (dividing the rhizome) and sowing seeds.
When cuttings you will need to cut top part rhizomes and plant it in soil rich in leaf humus, containing clay and sand. The divisions are planted at a distance of 20–25 cm from each other. Such plants begin to bloom already in the 3rd year from the time of planting.
If forcing is required, then in the autumn you should stock up on cuttings, cutting off parts from the rhizome from the top, which will not exceed 5 cm in length. You should choose among them those whose upper bud is the largest with rounded outlines. It is recommended to plant such cuttings in spacious containers. Place 10–12 pieces in each pot. For forcing, you should make very low greenhouses in which the cuttings will be grown. Containers with cuttings need to be lined with moss or buried in sand, almost completely, and moss is also distributed on the surface.
The temperature during forcing is maintained at about 30–35 degrees. After 20–21 days, the lilies of the valley will begin to bloom. Moss should never dry out. When the “lily of the valleys” appears above the moss layer, the pots are moved closer to the light source, but first a little shading should be done. If such conditions are maintained, it is already possible to New Year's holidays receive convalia flowers. Such forcing of lilies of the valley was actively practiced in Germany at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Such plants were imported to Russia in large quantities.
In nature, lilies of the valley can reproduce through ripened fruits and berries, and the root system of the “lily of the valleys” itself can grow up to 25 cm in a year. And, despite all this, this plant is rare and is listed in the Red Book.
At seed propagation Lily of the valley begins to bloom after 6 years. At the very beginning of autumn, it is necessary to sow seed material so that it can germinate by spring; sometimes it is recommended to sow in the middle or towards the end of the spring period. Naturally, in the first year there will be no flowering from sowing, since the lily of the valley will “try” to go deeper into the soil with its root system. And by the second spring, leaf plates will form, but they will not open, since outwardly they seem to be tightly contracted. Over time, the lily of the valley will tend to rise and these leaves will also open more and more. Each subsequent leaf will open the faster, as far as the first leaf plate opens. It is at this time that the rhizome begins to grow, its outlines become larger and thicker. The plant will try to capture larger and larger areas.
Difficulties in cultivating lily of the valley
When grown in the garden, “lily of the valleys” can be affected by gray mold. The reason for this is too much waterlogging of the soil, and also if the area with the plant is too thick. Treatment with fungicidal preparations will help in solving this problem.
When it is noticed that spots with red borders and wounds have formed on the leaves, this is evidence of the disease Gloeosporium convallariae. Also, yellow spotting on foliage is caused by dendronema lily of the valley. For the first and second diseases, fungicide treatment will also be required.
The main pest of lily of the valley is the root nematode. To prevent this problem, it is recommended to treat the soil with nematicides, but there is a more gentle method - planting several marigolds nearby. But if the defeat has gone far, then it is recommended to dig up the lily of the valley and burn it.
All parts of the lily of the valley contain the substance convallatoxin and are very poisonous. Therefore, it is recommended to wear gloves when working with the plant. But, despite this, the May lily of the valley variety is included in the pharmacopoeial lists of many countries as a medicinal plant. In Russian medicine it became known thanks to S.P. Botkin. The grass, leaves and flowers of the plant are used as raw materials for the manufacture of medicinal products. They are collected and dried at a temperature of about 50–60 degrees.
In addition to the existing toxic substance Lily of the valley contains cardiotonic glycosides, which serve as derivatives for such drugs. On their basis, tinctures and “Korglikon” are made. Medicines are prescribed, for example, convaflavin (a total flavonoid drug) to expel bile in cholecystitis and cholangitis.
Lily of the valley has also long been known to perfumers, since the oil of this plant can give people self-confidence, promotes creative activity, perseverance and sobriety of thought.
Many peoples have legends and tales about this beautiful plant with fragrant flowers.
Types of lily of the valley
- May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). The native habitat is in many European countries, including Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. This also includes the countries of Transcaucasia and most of Russia. In nature, the plant lives in deciduous, coniferous or mixed forests, and can also be found on the edges. When a plant is many years old, its root system becomes branched and consists of a large number of small and thin root processes that spread at a shallow depth under the soil surface. The height of this herbaceous perennial is 15–30 cm. There are usually 2–3 basal leaves. Their shape is in the form of an oblong ellipse, with a point at the top. The stem of this variety can reach a maximum height of 30 cm. The racemose inflorescence is made up of small flowers that hang on pedicels. Their shape is similar to a spherical bell, along the bottom of which there is a serration in the form of six petals bent outward. The inflorescence contains up to 20 flowers, snow-white or light pinkish in color, with a scent. The flowering process occurs from May to June. In June or early July, the fruits ripen in the form of a spherical berry. The color is orange-red, its diameter is about 6–8 mm. It contains one and a pair of seeds with spherical outlines. Reproduction occurs both by seeds and by the vegetative method - division of rhizomes. If lily of the valley develops from seeds, then natural conditions it will begin to bloom at the 7th year of life. IN next year the apical bud, which crowns the rhizome, continues it and two (occasionally three) leaves begin to grow from it again, but the appearance of a flowering stem is not guaranteed every year.
- Keiske's lily of the valley (Convallaria keiskei) also called the Far Eastern lily of the valley or Kuiske lily of the valley. It prefers to grow in light deciduous forests, where there is abundant moss litter, where there were once clearings, as well as in meadows that are located in the floodplains of waterways. The native range is in Russia in Transbaikalia, as well as in the taiga regions of the Far East, Primorye, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, and is also found in Northern China and Japan. Some biologists believe that this variety of lily of the valley is a subspecies of the May lily of the valley. The rhizome of the plant is long with many branches. The leaves located at the very bottom have the outlines of scales; their color can be either brown or purple. The height of the flowering stem can reach up to 18 cm. The length of the basal leaf plates does not exceed 14 cm. The flowers open up to one centimeter in diameter, their number varies from 3 to 10 units. The top of the petals has an ovoid-triangular shape. The fruit is also a ball of bright red berry. The variety bears its name in honor of the Japanese botanist Keisuke Ito (1803–1901), as the scientist botanist from the Netherlands Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Mikel immortalized the memory of his colleague.
- Mountain lily of the valley (Convallaria montana). Its native lands are in North America, and even there the plant can be found only in the mid-mountain zone, which includes the states: Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, and such lily of the valley is not uncommon in Virginia and West Virginia. Scientists also believe that this species is a subspecies of the May Lily of the Valley. The root system is quite developed, and the stem does not differ in height. The shape of the basal leaves is lanceolate, their length reaches 35 cm with a width of no more than 5 cm. The racemose inflorescence contains from 5 to 15 buds. Their outlines are broadly bell-shaped; if you measure their length, it does not exceed 8 mm. The flowering process is extended from the middle to the last days of May. After flowering, closer to autumn days The fruits are ripening in the form of reddish-orange berries. Its diameter reaches 9 mm, inside there are three chambers for several round seeds.
IN lately this modest flower became very popular in landscape design. Several were displayed garden species lilies of the valley, standing out for their size and color. For growing on summer cottage or at home in a pot, it is not necessary to have a cultivated variety; you can dig up the plant in the forest in late autumn or try planting seeds. Of course, you will have to tinker, but the snow-white beauty of spring lilies of the valley (pictured) is worth the effort.
Lily of the valley, oddly enough, comes from the asparagus family. In the botanical classification, it is represented by a single species - May lily of the valley, but geographical subspecies are also distinguished:
- Far Eastern (Keiske);
- mountain;
- Transcaucasian
There are no significant differences in morphology between them, the only thing is that these subspecies are territorially isolated from the main one. In the wild, lily of the valley is distributed throughout the European part of the Russian Federation, the Far East and Transbaikalia. The population halo covers Asia Minor and North America. The plant is classified as conservation species, as its numbers are actively declining.
May lily of the valley The Latin name for lily of the valley sounds like “lily of the valleys,” which well reflects its favorite places of settlement. You can find lily of the valley thickets in forests, in clearings and clearings, in lowlands near the water. Lily of the valley is very recognizable by its bright green oblong leaves and flower stalks with white fragrant bells. IN middle lane flowering occurs in May and lasts about twenty days. This happens at different times in each region.
Lily of the valley is a lower tier plant; it loves diffused light and light partial shade. Its stems reach a height of about 30 cm. After flowering, fruits are formed - round berries containing seeds.
Attention! All parts of the lily of the valley are poisonous, as they large quantities contain convallate toxin.
Preparation of material and artificial forcing of lilies of the valley
The easiest way to get new plants is from rhizomes with flower buds. They can be easily distinguished from leaf ones by their rounded tops. In the fall (no later than October), the rhizomes are dug up, tied into bunches of several pieces and placed vertically in washed river sand.
Advice. Instead of sand, you can use wet sphagnum moss for storage.
The containers are left to overwinter in a cool place: a cellar, a compartment for vegetables in the refrigerator (no more than +2°C). Only with early forcing (December, early January) are lilies of the valley frozen three weeks before planting (-3...-5°C). Thawing is carried out gradually, thereby simulating a spring thaw. To do this, prepare a bath (+30°C), the water in which is changed several times.
Lily of the valley root Best month for forcing lilies of the valley is the last calendar month of winter. By this time, the rhizomes have already woken up and are ready for planting in nutrient soil. The sprouts in containers are placed close to each other, watered abundantly and, covered with a transparent pact, placed in a warm, bright place. The greenhouses are shaded from direct sunlight. When the first green leaf appears, the shelter is removed and the temperature is lowered.
Attention! Watering is carried out only with water heated to +25°C.
Late forcing takes place in March. Typically, such plants do not produce abundant flowering. To prevent flower stalks from getting lost among the foliage, unexpanded leaves are removed with nail scissors.
Lilies of the valley in a pot must be cared for: watered, sprayed, mulched top layer peat. Flowering occurs in less than a month. With the appearance of the first buds, lilies of the valley are provided with an air temperature of no more than +18°C. It is not advisable to propagate May lily of the valley by seeds.
Lilies of the valley in a summer cottage
The forest flower loves well-moistened, nutritious soils. It is better to choose a place in the shade big trees or bushes. Since the plant has a creeping root system, it will grow throughout the garden without outside help. To limit growth, plastic borders from specialized stores are used.
The place for planting lily of the valley is prepared in advance. Fertilizers are applied:
- Deciduous humus or peat (10 kg per 1 sq. m).
- Mineral additives (superphosphate 100 g and potassium salt 40 g per 1 sq. m).
Planting grooves or holes are made, the depth of which depends on the size of the rhizomes. The sprouts are covered with a 1–2 cm layer of soil. About 10 cm is laid between the plants.
Lilies of the valley do well in the shade of trees Planted in the fall, lilies of the valley will delight you with flowers in the first spring. Some people prefer to plant rhizomes “before winter.” Lilies of the valley tolerate the most severe frosts - down to -40°C and do not need shelter.
Attention! For varietal lilies of the valley, some peculiarities in care are possible.
Lilies of the valley are very fond of organic fertilizers; they can be applied immediately after rooting. Minerals Plants will need it only after a year. In one place, May lilies of the valley can grow and bloom for more than 10 years.
At first, the planting will have to be weeded and loosened; an overgrown meadow of lilies of the valley does not need this.
Lilies of the valley in landscape design
There are many interesting varieties of lily of the valley that will decorate your spring flower bed. Plants were obtained not only with traditional white flowers, but also with pink, double bells. There are differences in leaf color and inflorescence size. The most famous varieties:
- Aurea (yellow foliage);
- Flore Pleno (white double flowers);
- Grandiflora (white flowers, large wide leaves);
- Green Tapestry (yellow-green foliage);
- Rosea (pale pink flowers, profusely flowering variety).
Lilies of the valley in landscape design Even after flowering has finished, lilies of the valley do not lose their attractiveness. Therefore, you can decorate garden paths, empty spaces near gazebos and benches in the yard with lush green bushes. They combine lilies of the valley with the same shade-loving and moisture-loving plants, for example, with forget-me-nots, hostas, speedwell. The main thing is that the root system of the “neighbors” is not very extensive and deep.
On your summer cottage you can create your own corner of untouched nature. Plant lilies of the valley between coniferous or deciduous trees. You can add ferns and low ornamental shrubs to the composition.
Delicate lilies of the valley garden plot or in pots on the window will not leave even the most experienced gardeners indifferent.
What you need to know about lilies of the valley: video
