Gardening Tips: Lily-of-the-Valley is a Hardy Shade-Loving Perennial

Lily-of-the-Valley is an old-fashioned perennial that looks so delicate with its tiny bell shaped flowers. There is not anything delicate about this hardy shade-lover. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a tough-as-nails perennial that will keep going after many others fail to thrive.

It is one of the few perennials that can grow in the deep shade of large trees and shrubs. Lily-of-the-Valley also makes a good choice in small contained spaces. In areas where temperatures remain cooler in summer, it can even take full sun. This hardy perennial isn't very particular about the soil it's planted in.

Lily-of-the-Valley can spread quickly by underground stems called rhizomes. Although each plant only has two or three wide and glossy leaves, it makes a beautiful ground cover in masses.

The somewhat tropical looking leaves of this perennial belie its ability to survive sub-zero temperatures. Lily-of-the-Valley is hardy in USDA Zones 2 - 7.

Even after the spring blooms fade, the leaves remain beautiful until fall and cover areas where other plants fail. The Lilly-of-the-Valley's blooms are very fragrant. That's just one more added benefit of this tough and reliable perennial.

One of the ways Lily-of-the-Valley is sold at garden centers is by sprouts from the rhizomes called pips. These rhizome sprouts should be planted in the spring. This perennial is also available in container grown plants that can be planted anytime during the growing season.

This tough perennial can spread quickly, so planting it in beds with other flowers is not a good idea. It will overtake the other plants and become a problem. Lilly-of-the-Valley will need a place that is enclosed with edging or other barriers to contain its spread.

The container grown plants need to be spaced six to eight inches apart or the sprouts (pips) can be planted three to four inches apart. Lilly-of-the-Valley can also become invasive in natural forest areas, so take care if planting near natural woodlands.