May lily of the valley: composition, properties, benefits and harms, use and contraindications. May lily of the valley - useful properties, use in traditional medicine, possible harm When flowers appear in lily of the valley
In May, spring fully comes into its own, gardens and forests are covered with greenery, and the air is filled with a fresh, exciting fragrance. It blooms lily of the valley, beloved by both gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts.
A herbaceous perennial plant, first described by Carl Linnaeus, today can be found in the forest, it is used to decorate garden plots and early spring forcing, and is grown as a pot culture. Thanks to breeders, more than a dozen original varieties lily of the valley, in the photo and description strikingly different from the wild ancestor.
Lily of the valley classification
The first description of the lily of the valley as a genus belongs to Linnaeus. In the XVIII century, the plant was classified as a lily and received the name Lilium convalium, which means "Lily of the Valley" in Latin. Then scientists repeatedly changed the belonging of culture to one or another section of the generally accepted classification.
At the moment, lilies of the valley, like other plants well known to gardeners, for example, kupena, birdman and polyanthes, are part of the vast Asparagaceae family. The modern name of the flower has also changed.
The lily of the valley today became known as Convallaria or convallaria. Among the people, the lily of the valley is also known under other names, for example, forest bell, May or forest lily, smooth, young, meadow shanks, dog tongue or hare ears.
Although botanists officially recognize only the European variety of May lily of the valley, populations growing in the north and east of Asia, as well as on the territory of the North American continent, are increasingly recognized as independent.
At the same time, differences in appearance among plants are minimal, however, the significant remoteness of habitats and the lack of communication between them is a good reason to talk about the presence of three, and sometimes even four varieties of lily of the valley:
- May lily of the valley (C. majalis), which lives almost everywhere on the European continent;
- lily of the valley Keizke (C. keiskei), growing in the Far East, in China and Mongolia, and also found in the west of Hindustan.
- mountain lily of the valley (C. montana), which occupies wooded areas in the eastern United States;
- Transcaucasian lily of the valley (C. transcaucasica), growing in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, including the territory of Turkey.
Where does lily of the valley grow
Lily of the valley is unpretentious, we have excellent adaptability, so we managed to get along in a variety of climatic zones and natural conditions. At the same time, the plant is everywhere:
- exhibits high shade tolerance;
- prefers nutrient-rich soils;
- does not tolerate drought well.
In nature, lily of the valley can be found in deciduous and mixed, less often in pine forests. The rapid development of the aerial part and flowering occurs at a time when the soil is still watered melt waters, the foliage on the trees and shrubs has not yet fully opened, and the grass has not risen. Under such conditions, wintering rhizomes provide the perennial with everything necessary for growth. And in a few years, in place of just a few rosettes of smooth oblong-elliptical leaves, a dense curtain appears.
Given the ability to capture new territories, in the gardens where the lily of the valley grows, the area for it must be strictly limited. Otherwise, the plant may crowd out other useful crops in a few seasons.
Despite their hardiness and adaptability, all wild-growing varieties of lily of the valley are under the threat of extermination. The reason is not only the beauty of flowers and strong aroma, but also the beneficial properties of the plant. Therefore, in Russia, and in a number of European countries and in the US state of Kentucky, the species is taken under official protection.
What does a lily of the valley look like: plant description
Blooming lily of the valley is well known to many. However, a perennial herbaceous culture is not only graceful bell flowers and leathery smooth leaves.
Most of the plant, namely the branched powerful root system, hidden deep underground. Thanks to horizontal light brown rhizomes and numerous small lily-of-the-valley roots extending from them:
- winters well and even when the soil freezes, it quickly recovers;
- one of the first to wake up with the onset of spring warmth,
- successfully propagated vegetatively.
The aerial part of the plant consists of shortened shoots and a rosette of leaves. Moreover, the lowest, undeveloped leaf plates are often located under a layer of soil. As it grows, true leaves appear. First, they are rolled into a tight tube, which gradually rises above the ground and opens. Broadly lanceolate smooth leaf plates are painted in rich green color, have longitudinal venation and pointed tips.
When two or three leaves are fully formed, the development of a bud begins, turning into a slender flowering shoot, bearing from 6 to 20 rounded buds at once. The height of the plant depends on the species and variety. Wild plants, as a rule, are more modest than garden specimens, and European lilies of the valley, not exceeding 15–20 cm, are lower than their Asian and Transcaucasian counterparts, which grow up to 30–50 cm in height.
Since flowering occurs on buds laid in the previous season, its splendor depends on the quality of care and the growth conditions created for the lily of the valley.
In wild and many cultivated varieties, the perianths have a simple, miniature bell shape. Inside the rounded calyx, 4 to 9 mm high, there are six stamens and a short pistil.
The first lilies of the valley open on the lower part of the stem, then the turn of the middle and upper buds comes.
Depending on climatic and weather conditions, this can happen from the second decade of May to June. On average, flowering lasts from two to three weeks.
How lily of the valley reproduces
If the weather is not too hot, white fragrant bells cover the entire brush and do not fade for a long time, making it possible to form a lot of ovaries. When lilies of the valley bloom, the air is filled with an incredibly strong fragrance. It is the smell that attracts many bees and other pollinators to the flowers.
The successful work of insects leads to the appearance of rounded berries, which increase in size as they ripen and change color from green to brown, and then, by mid-summer, to bright orange or red. Inside the fruit is divided into three chambers containing 1-2 large seeds.
The berries are in no hurry to fall off and often become food for birds and rodents. Thanks to this, lilies of the valley successfully appear where this plant has not been found before. However, this breeding method is hardly suitable for those who want to see lily of the valley flowers not in the photo, but in their own garden.
If the lily of the valley is grown from seed, the plant will bloom only after 6-7 years. Therefore, flower growers prefer to use vegetative propagation of the culture using root cuttings.
After being transferred to a new place, a strong delenka with the beginnings of leaf rosettes quickly takes root and, with proper care, will delight with fragrant bell flowers in 1–2 years.
Types and varieties of lilies of the valley with a photo of flowers
Graceful fragrant flowers have long attracted the attention of man. Long before Linnaeus, the lily of the valley was known to the peoples who inhabited modern countries Europe, Russia, Asia. This is evidenced by the mention of the plant in the legends of the ancient Romans and Germans, Slavic tribes, as well as the use of culture for medicinal purposes.
Since the 16th-17th centuries, when the fashion for bouquets and flower decoration of costumes and hairstyles arose in France and other countries, lilies of the valley turned out to be very useful. Not only did they show themselves perfectly in cutting, but they also served as a natural flavoring agent, a kind of perfume that masks unpleasant odors.
The demand for flowers turned out to be so great that plants from the forest migrated to gardens and flower beds. Thanks to careful selection, large-flowered varieties of Convallaria grandiflora already appeared then. These plants are distinguished by slender flower stalks rising above green foliage and bearing up to 20 large white buds.
Another achievement of breeders is the appearance of lilies of the valley, the flowers of which are not painted in the traditional white, but in a pale pink or lilac shade. The photo gives a visual representation of what the lily of the valley Convallaria Rosea looks like.
Not wanting to stop there, the enthusiasts of this amazing spring crop have created a group of double-corolla Convallaria Prolificans varieties. The brushes of these plants look especially magnificent, while completely retaining both durability and wonderful aroma. 
No less popular among amateurs garden flowers lilies of the valley with original foliage are used. These are variegated forms, the leaf plates of which, depending on the variety, are decorated with strokes, stripes or strokes of contrasting tones. 
Garden lily of the valley Hardwick Hall is distinguished by leaves with a wide, heterogeneous border of yellow.
Lily of the valley Albostriata plants are doubly decorative during flowering, and after it they remain incredibly attractive thanks to bright leaf plates covered with longitudinal stripes of yellow. 
More golden reflections on the Aurea leaves. On some leafy leafy greens, the color remains only in the form of thin stripes, the rest is painted in milky yellow tones. Light, as in the photo of lily of the valley flowers, shoots bearing flowers can also be. 
Use of lily of the valley
In the garden, lilies of the valley are actively used for landscaping areas under the crowns of trees and tall shrubs. The May bloom allows the area to come alive while large plants not yet fully operational.
A perennial ground cover crop does not require special care, it easily winters in the European part of Russia, it goes well with such popular species as aquilegia, irises, and blueberries blooming a little earlier. At the same time, by the middle of summer, the decorative effect of lilies of the valley decreases. To maintain the freshness of the foliage, the plant is watered, and experts recommend cutting off the remaining flower stalks with the resulting berries so as not to weaken the next year's flowering.
Lilies of the valley can be grown in room conditions, as well as to achieve the early appearance of flowers by planting healthy rhizomes stored in the fall in a pot.
If lilies of the valley are collected for a bouquet, it is better to give preference to brushes that are not fully opened. Cutting is carried out in the morning or evening, when there is no direct sunlight. Due to the strong smell, lily of the valley flowers should not be left in living quarters, especially in children's and bedrooms.
Modestly drooping white balls of flowers with a bewitching scent… The shy nature makes the lily of the valley hide in the dense foliage, but the scent will surely give away the secretive plant. Lily of the valley flowers cannot be called luxurious - small, light bells. Another thing is wide juicy leaves! Outwardly similar to the host, and also favorably refer to shady areas. But not the foliage, namely the blooming lily of the valley leaves no one indifferent. If you too love these delicate plants, try planting them in your garden.
Having started reading this article, you have probably already sung the famous song “Lilies of the valley, lilies of the valley of bright May hello ...” A simple and catchy melody and light text made the song incredibly popular in the late 50s of the last century. True, for some time "Lilies of the Valley" was scolded for vulgarity and anti-Sovietism, although half a century has passed, and everyone knows the song. Everything ingenious is simple, it's not for nothing that "Lilies of the Valley" are sung in different languages, and even in Japanese. Listen:
Without affecting the artistic value of the song (Russian, of course), let's take up its content. No, we will not “dissect the classics”, but simply state a fact - only residents of the warm regions of the country can rightfully call the spring May flower a lily of the valley. In the central part of Russia, lilies of the valley appear in June, well, maybe at the end of May, if the spring turned out to be hot. We can give primroses, coltsfoot or garden bulbs in spring days, but you still need to wait for lilies of the valley.
The easiest and most inexpensive way to plant lilies of the valley in your garden is to bring a delenka from the forest. This can be done in spring or autumn. The plant reproduces well by seeds, but the delenka will bloom faster.
When you go to the forest for lilies of the valley, be sure to take gloves and work only in them. And the roots, and flowers, and foliage, and berries are poisonous!
Put on gloves, dig up a bush you like and check that it has a piece of rhizome and small roots, as well as a bud, which will then turn into a fragrant flower. Just do not cry and lament that lilies of the valley are listed in the Red Book. You will not dig up a lily-of-the-valley meadow or dig a foundation pit in this place, but take only two or three bushes. In addition, you have a noble goal - you will plant these babies, you will look after them, and soon the flowers will grow.
Lilies of the valley will be grateful if you plant them near trees or near bushes, where they get enough light, and at the same time they are protected from the midday sun and overheating of the soil. It is good if the earth on your site is loose, saturated with nutrients, neutral in acidity.
By the way, when choosing a place for lilies of the valley, think about whether a place along the fence is suitable for them? .. In the Kuban, it is believed that this plant can take away people with evil thoughts from home. Maybe superstition, but the flowers on both sides of the fence are really planted.
If you are planning to make a lily of the valley flower garden, then, no matter how much you want, do not plant flowers too close to each other. The optimal distance between the bushes is 20 centimeters. Your endurance and patience will give a wonderful result, because lilies of the valley grow very well, and in a dense planting they will be cramped, the flowers will be crushed or disappear altogether. And let the foliage look beautiful, are you waiting for fragrant flowers?
Lilies of the valley love moisture, so it is very important to water them regularly, especially in the first half of summer. With a lack of water, there is a danger that the flowers will become smaller. The plant also does not like wetlands, but requires harmony ...
With outward modesty and tenderness, the cunning lily of the valley belongs to aggressor plants. In favorable conditions, it will actively grow, capturing territories suitable for life. Experienced gardeners recommend thinning out plantings of lilies of the valley at least once every three years. Be careful with him and do not succumb to the charm of the bells inclined to the ground! And don't forget about its poisonousness!
Types and varieties of lilies of the valley
The question of the types of lilies of the valley is not simple. In specialized literature, the only species is sometimes called May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), and sometimes add two more - Keizke's lily of the valley (Convallaria keiskei) And mountain lily of the valley (Convallaria montana). These types or varieties of lily of the valley are distinguished by geography. The May lily of the valley is found in Europe, the mountain lily in North America, and the Keizke lily of the valley can be found in the Far East. And in the Caucasian forests you can find Transcaucasian lily of the valley (Convallaria transcaucasica)…
What are their differences? May lily of the valley is a low forest plant with white flowers. Compared to May, Keizke (or Keiske) lily of the valley blooms later and has larger flowers. The bells of the mountain lily of the valley are slightly longer, and the leaves are larger than those of the May lily of the valley. Transcaucasian lily of the valley is distinguished by large and wide flowers.
The differences are minimal, it is difficult to understand all the subtleties, and amateur gardeners do not need it. There is no point in botanical disputes and debates if there is no practical benefit from them. Is the plant beautiful? Is care clear? What then to argue about, if planting (weeding, watering, etc.) is necessary ?!
Among the garden forms of lily of the valley you can find bright and unusual varieties, which only with their aroma resemble a modest forest flower. The foliage can be green, yellow, striped and speckled, and the flowers can be pink, cream, double. What would you say if you meet such an instance:
Yes, it's lily of the valley with white double flowers! The variety of this handsome man is called ‘Flore Plena’ (the spelling ‘Flore Pleno’ is found). Plant height is from 15 to 25 centimeters. The snow-white bells are so large that they seem to be fused, but in fact they have a double corolla.
It is impossible to pass by pink lilies of the valley ‘Rosea’. Delicate saturated color appeared as a result of the painstaking work of breeders to cross the lily of the valley and the red tulip. This spectacular, winter-hardy, non-aggressive lily of the valley has a very pleasant smell, although its aroma is lighter than that of May. But the number of flowers on one brush is much larger - up to 14 pieces, while Convallaria majalis has no more than 6-8 light droplets-bells.
In height, the pink handsome man can reach 20-30 centimeters. To preserve the unusual color, it is better to plant the plant in partial shade, the bright sun can discolor the blush. Also, do not plant white lilies of the valley next to ‘Rosea’, which can oppress pink neighbors.
Variegated leaves increase the value of varietal lilies of the valley in the eyes of gardeners, because the flowering period does not last very long, and unusual foliage adorns the site all season. The ‘Albostriata’ variety is surprisingly beautiful: light cream stripes run along the leaves in even parallels.
It is better to place lily of the valley ‘Albostriata’ in a bright place to maintain a contrasting pattern. The grower will have to monitor the emergence of new shoots, because sometimes the plant can grow with ordinary green foliage. In this case, it is necessary to carefully remove the violator of beauty along with a piece of root.
It looks like this variety ‘Vic Pawlowski’s Gold’, but the veins on its leaves have a golden hue, the light stripes are wider and they are more common on a green background.
May lily of the valley ‘Vic Pawlowski’s Gold’
With strong shade, the leaves may lose their decorative effect and become completely green, so choose a bright place with reasonable shade. Both striped varieties of lily of the valley cannot be classified as aggressors, as they grow slowly.
Another variegated variety ‘Aureovariegata’ (also ‘Variegata’) is valued not only for yellowish stripes on wide leaves, but also for abundant flowering - there are up to 15 white flowers in a large fragrant brush. In dense shade, the lily of the valley will bloom weakly, although such behavior can be forgiven for beautiful foliage.
In height ‘Aureovariegata’ grows up to 20 centimeters, in width - up to 25, the variety does not require careful care and grows rapidly.
The foliage of the ‘Green Tapestry’ variety is covered with light spots and stripes. Is not viral disease and not the consequences of heat, but a decorative feature of this form of lily of the valley. The plant is absolutely healthy and simply pleases the owner with its unusual appearance.
Some varieties of lilies of the valley have green leaves with a light border around the edge. An uneven, cream-colored wide border adorns the foliage of the 'Hofheim' lily of the valley; in the 'Hardwick Hall' variety, the border is golden.
The beautiful golden yellow color of the foliage of some varieties of lilies of the valley will help lighten the dark corners of the garden. A little sun will add to shady places funny company from lilies of the valley ‘Golden Jubilee’ or ‘Aurea’.
The large-flowered variety ‘Grandiflora’ has simple green foliage, but this lily of the valley can hardly be called modest. In all its glory, it appears during the flowering period: radiant white large flowers on strong tall stems will not go unnoticed!
Lily of the valley ‘Grandiflora’ is excellent for cutting. Another variety will also look good in a vase - ‘Dorien’ (the spelling ‘Doreen’ is found). Tall, with large flowers and wide leaves, this lily of the valley can grow up to 30 centimeters in height.
Another garden giant is ‘Fortins Giant’. This French variety is distinguished not only by its impressive size, but also by its strong aroma. A bouquet of lilies of the valley ‘Fortins Giant’ will be incredibly spectacular!
Short kids are also ready to surprise potential owners - pay attention to the variety ‘Prolificans’. This is a low-growing form that captivates gardeners with voluminous flowers (the secret of splendor is that several flowers are located on one peduncle at once), strong aroma and long flowering.
Lilies of the valley in garden design
Lily of the valley is a real find for a shady garden in landscape style. For planting, it is worth choosing low varieties of the May lily of the valley, tall plants will look too pretentious.
Lilies of the valley planted along the path look beautiful. In order for such a border to remain neat, it is necessary to make an additional fence of stones or dig in plates, otherwise the flowers will grow strongly and you will be left without a path!
A lonely lily of the valley in the garden is a rarity. Even tall varieties suitable for cutting, feel (and look) better in group plantings. It is necessary to find good neighbors for the lily of the valley for two reasons: the first is that the leaves appear quite late, and empty spaces need to be decorated; the second - by the end of summer, juicy green foliage loses its beauty.
Lilies of the valley are not the friendliest flowers, a dense network of rhizomes is ready to displace any competitors from the territory. For this reason, for compositions with lilies of the valley, it is better to take plants with shallow roots or ground coversthat give a mustache or propagate by rooting shoots.
An advantageous neighborhood can be obtained with hosts, forget-me-nots, Veronica. A good addition to the white lily of the valley will be pale blue brunner flowers. Both plants are shade-loving, so dark areas of the garden will become noticeably lighter.
If the shadow on the site is not very deep, then you can plant a watershed to the lilies of the valley. Good company it will turn out from lilies of the valley with yasnotka, spring umbilical cord, and also with creeping tenacious.
A win-win option for a shady garden is to plant ferns for lilies of the valley. So you play on the contrast of foliage: a combination of smooth glossy and openwork leaves will give the site an interesting look, and the decorative effect will remain even after the lilies of the valley have faded.
A good way to diversify thickets of lilies of the valley (if you have already acquired them) is to put containers with bright plants on this picturesque clearing. So after the end of flowering, you can dilute the green monotony with cheerful spots.
For those who like to combine in flower beds different plants and does not imagine his future masterpiece without lilies of the valley, we recommend choosing slow-growing varieties. This will allow plants to coexist comfortably in a small area.
The smell of lilies of the valley
Some gardeners who have forest lilies of the valley in their plots have mixed feelings: “It grows like a weed, but the smell is noble ...” The aggressive behavior and quarrelsomeness of flowers is easy to forgive for their incomparable aroma. A huge number of perfumers have been inspired by this discreet delicate flower.
For many Russian women, lily of the valley perfume is associated with the once popular Flowers of Russia series, and older ladies may remember the Forest Lily of the Valley or even Silver Lily of the Valley perfume. These fragrances were not considered luxurious (a French perfume was ideal), but the bottle smelled of real lily of the valley. The scent was said to be soothing and help relieve headaches. The result can and was, however, to help in this case, probably, only a real lily of the valley or its tincture could help. The fact is that in perfumery, fragrance is obtained exclusively with the help of synthetic compounds, since essential oil cannot be obtained from lily of the valley ...
Not only perfumers are trying to repeat the smell of delicate flowers - breeders and variety testers are also working to give the smell of lily of the valley to other flowers. For example, peonies with a lily-of-the-valley aroma have already been bred (varieties ‘Le Signe’, ‘Duchess de Nemours’, ‘Excelsa’).
Do you love lilies of the valley? We have not talked about all the existing varieties in this article. If unusual forms of lily of the valley grow in your garden, tell us about them, send a photo of a flowering plant, and the article will definitely be supplemented. We are waiting for your letters and photos by e-mail!
Lily of the valley (lat. Convallaria)- monotypic or oligotypic (including a small number of species) genus of the Asparagus family. Not so long ago, the lily of the valley flower was attributed to the Liliaceae family or was isolated in the Lily of the valley family. The Latin name Lilium convallium, which was given to the plant by Carl Linnaeus, translates as "lily of the valleys." Russian name"lily of the valley", most likely, came from the Polish language, and this plant is also called rejuvenator, rejuvenator, culprit and shirt. In the wild, lily of the valley is a forest flower that grows in Europe, Asia and North America in deciduous, pine, mixed forests and floodplain oak forests.
In culture, lily of the valley has been grown since the 16th century; in some towns in France, on the first Sunday of May, a lily of the valley festival is held. The healing properties of lily of the valley have been known since time immemorial and are still used in both traditional and folk medicine. Lily of the valley is also in demand perfume industry to create fragrances.
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Planting and caring for lilies of the valley (in brief)
- Landing: from September to early November.
- Bloom: April May.
- Lighting: penumbra, shade.
- The soil: moist, rich in organic matter, neutral or slightly acid reaction.
- Watering: only during abnormally hot weather.
- Top dressing: humus or rotted manure, solutions of organic or mineral fertilizers.
- Reproduction: mainly by division of rhizomes, less often by seeds.
- Pests: sawflies, nematodes, onion rattlesnakes.
- Diseases: gray vegetable rot, gleosporiosis.
- Properties: lily of the valley is poisonous.
Read more about growing lilies of the valley below.
Lily of the valley flowers - description
The lily of the valley plant blooms in May-June for about two weeks. It reaches a height of 20-25 cm. The rhizome of the lily of the valley is thin and creeping, numerous roots have a fibrous structure. The leaves of the lily of the valley, which can be from one to three, are oval-oblong, broadly lanceolate, retain a juicy green color until the end of July, then turn yellow and wither. The peduncle of the lily of the valley, which is formed from a flower bud, has a triangular section in its upper part and is twisted in a spiral. Snow-white, fragrant, 8-12 flowers collected in a brush are small bells 4 mm long and 5 mm wide with short stamens. By the end of flowering, the lily of the valley inflorescence darkens, the ovary appears - three-chamber lily of the valley berries, each of which has 3-6 seeds. Lily of the valley seeds are poisonous, like the rest of the plant.
Growing lilies of the valley - features
Lilies of the valley are shade tolerant. They are listed in the Red Book. Not only fragrant flowers are beautiful, but also wide dark green leaves of lily of the valley. Lilies of the valley are perfectly combined in the garden with ferns, lungwort, aquilegia, anemones. Lilies of the valley grow incredibly fast, and any other flowers can crowd out the flower bed. They behave in the same way in prefabricated bouquets: other plants quickly wither in their neighborhood. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so be careful when handling lilies of the valley.
Planting lilies of the valley and care in the garden
When to plant lilies of the valley
If we are talking about when best time plant lilies of the valley in open ground, then any gardener will answer you unequivocally: in the fall, from early September to early November. The most suitable place for them is under trees or bushes, which will create the shade they need for the lilies of the valley, which will not allow the sun to quickly dry out the ground on the site. But remember that these plants still need light, otherwise the site will turn beautifully green, but you will not see flowers. And think about how to protect the lilies of the valley from the wind.
Soil lilies of the valley require moist, slightly acidic or neutral, rich in organic matter. Recall: in order to reduce the acidity of the soil, lime is added to it in advance with deep (30 cm) digging, 200-300 g per 1 m², humus or peat compost (10 kg per 1 m²), as well as fertilizers: 100 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate per 1 m², and it is necessary to prepare the soil for the autumn planting of lilies of the valley in the spring.
Planting lilies of the valley in autumn
Lilies of the valley are planted in rows in grooves, maintaining a distance between specimens of 10 cm, and between rows - 20-25 cm. rhizomes gives high-quality planting material - sprouts with a part of the rhizome and a lobe of roots. Some of the sprouts carry a flower bud and may bloom as early as next spring - these are sprouts with a diameter of at least 0.6 cm with an oval top. And those that smaller size and with a sharp tip next year only leaves will be able to give.
The depth of the furrow should be such that the roots are placed vertically, in full length, and the shoots are buried 1-2 cm deep into the ground. If the soil is dry in the area, do not forget to water the lilies of the valley after planting. With the onset of frost, cover the area with young lilies of the valley with mulch to protect them from freezing in case of a snowless winter. In one place without a transplant, lily of the valley can grow for five years.
lilies of the valley in spring
You can plant lilies of the valley in the spring, but they can get sick and will definitely not bloom this year. But if you prepare the site in the fall, as described above, and dig it up in the spring before planting, then the young shoots will take root more easily in the open ground, especially if you cover them with film or lutrasil at night, protecting them from spring frosts.
How to care for lilies of the valley
Lilies of the valley take such good care of themselves that they can displace any other flowers from the flower bed, but it is not enough for a good flower grower that the flowers grow and bloom, he needs his plants to reach the highest decorative effect. Therefore, lilies of the valley will also have to pay attention: water them so often in hot weather that the soil is always wet, loosening the soil and removing weeds is imperative. Lily of the valley responds well to fertilizing with organic matter - rotted manure or humus. Lilies of the valley can get gray vegetable rot, which is treated with fungicides.
Of the pests, the most terrible is the nematode, from which there is no escape: diseased plants are removed and burned. That is why weed control is so important in the area where lilies of the valley grow.
Lilies of the valley after flowering
Lilies of the valley bloom at the beginning of summer, but, having lost their fragrant inflorescences, they decorate the site for some time with their wide dark green leaves. To prevent lilies of the valley from seizing someone else's territory, enclose the flower bed with slate sheets, digging them into the ground by 40 cm.
When autumn comes, take care of transplanting lilies of the valley if the time has come, and if transplanting is not expected this year, forget about lilies of the valley and take care of other flowers - lilies of the valley are frost-resistant, and nothing will be done to them in winter. When spring comes and the snow melts, remove last year's dry leaves from the lily of the valley bed with a rake and wait for the first lilies of the valley to appear.
Lilies of the valley - poisonous plants
Therefore, we remind you once again: wear gloves when transplanting them, explain to the children that there are these red berries and you should not chew these beautiful leaves in any case. And yourself, having read popular literature about the benefits of preparations from lily of the valley, do not try to prepare them. And with ready-made pharmaceutical medicines containing an extract from poisonous lily of the valley, be careful, use them only as directed by a doctor and in the indicated dosage.
Types of lilies of the valley
Some botanists call the genus monotypic and distinguish only one species - May lily of the valley, all other species consider it varieties. Maybe it is, but since these varieties exist, we will present them to you. So, types and varieties of lilies of the valley.
May lily of the valley (Convalaria majalis)
It grows in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. The inflorescence is a rare raceme with 6-20 flowers on long stalks, very fragrant, white or pinkish, bell-shaped with recurved teeth. garden forms: Grandiflora with very large flowers, Proliferance - with double white flowers, Variegata - with yellow stripes along green leaves.
Lily of the valley (lat. Convallaria) is a perennial herbaceous plant, which belongs to the monocotyledonous class, the Lilianae superorder, the asparagus order, the asparagus family, the nolin subfamily, the lily of the valley genus. This beautiful flower is rare and listed in the Red Book.
Popular names for lily of the valley: lily of the valley, lily of the valley, may lily, forest bell, may lily, field lily, convalia, smoothness, raven, rejuvenator, forest tongue, meadow cuttle, dog tongue, mayevka, hare salt, hare ears, doe ear, shirt, young.
The origin of the word "lily of the valley".
This plant received its scientific definition, borrowed from the Latin language, thanks to the works of the famous botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. Since this flower was previously attributed to the genus Liliaceae, the scientist assigned it the Latin name "Lilium convallium", which in translation sounds like "lily growing in the valley."
Despite the fact that the word "lily of the valley" entered the dictionary of the Russian language in the 17th century, there is still no consensus on its etymology. Some scientists believe that it came from the Polish language, in which the flower is called "lanuszka" because of the similarity of its elongated leaves with a pointed tip with the ears of a shy doe. Others attribute the origin of the name, made up of the two words "incense" and "breathe", to the magnificent smell of its fragrant flowers. The last group of researchers is of the opinion that the whole thing is in the completely smooth leaves of the plant, and its definition is a modified word "smooth".
Lily of the valley - description, appearance, structure, characteristics.
Lilies of the valley are perennial herbaceous plants that have a horizontal, well-developed and branched root system with numerous, shallow, thin roots. The root system of the lily of the valley is fibrous, with elongated internodes. In the nodes of the rhizome are scaly leaves, from the axillary buds of which new roots develop.
From the vertical rhizome of the lily of the valley grow 3-5 lower scaly leaves small size with closed tubular sheaths. They are usually brown, dark purple or light green color. For the most part, grassroots leaves are hidden in the ground. Also, 2 (sometimes 3) basal leaves grow from the top of the rhizome, having an oval-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical shape. Lily of the valley leaves are large, smooth, juicy green in color, slightly pointed at the tops, have arcuate venation. Between the leaves at the top of the rhizome, one large bud is hidden, from which a single bud grows. stem lily of the valley height from 15 to 30 centimeters (although garden lilies of the valley can be up to 50 cm high). The peduncle does not have leaves, although there are some specimens that have filiform leaves under the inflorescences.
Vertical rhizomes of lily of the valley form leaves every year, and lilies of the valley bloom every 2-3 years. The first time lilies of the valley bloom at 7 years. At 10-12 years old, plants lose the ability to form a peduncle. Over the years, horizontal rhizomes rot, and their system breaks up into separate individuals.
Above the middle of the grassy stalk of the lily of the valley, in early May, a fragrant brush begins to form, which includes from 6 to 20 drooping flowers. The long curved pedicels of the lily of the valley have membranous bracts. The stem itself is twisted spirally, so the flowers look in the same direction, even though the pedicels extend from different sides of the triangular flower arrow. six-toothed perianth lily of the valley, painted in snow-white or pale pink, resembles in appearance a miniature bell with 6 short thick stamens, at the end of which there are oblong yellow anthers. The style is short, with a small tripartite stigma. The tops of the perianth segments are tightly pressed to each other, in a blossoming flower they are slightly bent, when they fade they are very strongly bent. Flowers lilies of the valley do not have nectaries and attract insects (bees, wasps, bumblebees) with a strong aroma and pollen. In the absence of insects, self-pollination can occur.
When do lilies of the valley bloom?
flowering period lily of the valley is quite short and lasts only 15-20 days. The lower flowers open before the upper ones. Flowering time depends on temperature environment. Usually lilies of the valley begin to bloom in spring in early to mid-May and finish flowering in mid-June. By this time, the inflorescences, 4 to 9 millimeters long and 3 to 7 millimeters wide, begin to darken. Soon an ovary appears in each flower, from which an orange-red berry develops. Fetus lily of the valley with a diameter of 6 to 8 millimeters has an almost round shape and a three-chamber structure. Each chamber contains 1 to 2 spherical seeds. The formation of berries ends by the beginning of July. Ripe fruits can stay on the plant for a very long time. They are included in the diet of chipmunks and birds, although for humans and many animals, all parts of the lily of the valley are very poisonous.
The smell of lilies of the valley.
The smell of forest lily of the valley is fresh, slightly tart, has a slightly cool and very gentle note. Sometimes it is a bit like the smell of jasmine, mixed with amber of wet wood. The delicate aroma of lily of the valley flowers is often used by perfumers around the world to create exquisite perfumes.
Under natural conditions, lilies of the valley grow in all European countries: in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, France, Austria. You can meet this plant in the meadows and mountain slopes of China, the countries of Asia Minor, Japan and part of the territory of the United States of America. The distribution area of these flowers includes Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
In Russia, lily of the valley grows in its European part, in the mountainous territory of Crimea, in Transbaikalia, on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in the Amur Region and Primorsky Territory, in the Far East and Siberia.
The most suitable for flower growth are not only deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests, where lilies of the valley grow on the edges or clearings, but also meadows located in river floodplains and on mountain slopes. Due to uncontrolled and sometimes predatory collection, lilies of the valley are currently listed in the Red Book.
Types of lilies of the valley, photos and names.
Many researchers believe that the genus Convallaria is monotypic, that is, it consists of one species (May lily of the valley). However, in some classifications, species are distinguished that differ somewhat from the main one in morphological features that are caused by the geographical isolation of plants. Below is a description of the varieties of lilies of the valley.
- May lily of the valley(lat. Convallaria majalis) grows in Spain and Portugal, Italy and Greece, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and other European countries. Its distribution area includes most of the territory of Russia, as well as the countries of the Caucasus. In the wild, May lily of the valley is found in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, as well as on the edges. The root system of a perennial plant is branched and consists of a large number small and thin roots, spreading shallowly under the soil surface. Two or three basal leaflets have the shape of an oblong ellipse with a pointed apex. The stem of the May lily of the valley reaches a maximum of 30 centimeters in height. The inflorescence consists of medium-sized flowers hanging on a long pedicel, resembling a spherical bell in shape, the bottom of which is cut by six teeth bent outwards. The number of small white or light pink fragrant flowers included in the inflorescence can reach 20 pieces.
- Lily of the valley Keizke(lily of the valley Keiske, Far Eastern lily of the valley) (lat. Convallaria keiskei) grows both in light deciduous and coniferous forests with abundant moss litter, in places of abandoned clearings, as well as in meadows located in floodplains. The plant is found in Russia on the territory of Transbaikalia, as well as in the zone of endless taiga expanses. Far East and Primorye, on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in Northern China and Japan. Some scientists consider Keizke's lily of the valley to be a subspecies of the May lily of the valley. The plant has a long branched rhizome. The lower leaves of the Keizke lily of the valley are scaly and colored brown or purple hue. The height of the stem can reach 18 centimeters, and the length of the basal leaves is no more than 14 cm. The flowers can reach one centimeter in diameter, their number in the inflorescence ranges from 3 to 10. The bottom of the petals is ovate-triangular.
- mountain lily of the valley(lat. Convallaria montana) is common in North America, where it is found only in the mid-mountain belt of several states: Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, as well as in Virginia and West Virginia. Many scientists believe that the mountain lily of the valley is a subspecies of the May. This is a plant with a well-developed root system and a low stem. Basal leaves of a lanceolate form have a length of up to 35 centimeters and a width of not more than 5 centimeters. The inflorescence of the mountain lily of the valley includes from 5 to 15 broadly bell-shaped flowers, the length of which does not exceed 8 millimeters. Closer to autumn, reddish-orange berries with a diameter of no more than 9 millimeters ripen on the plant, which are three-chambered fruits, which contain several round seeds.
Lily of the valley varieties, photos and names.
Since the 15th century, gardeners, inspired by the aroma of lilies of the valley, have cultivated this plant and brought out a huge amount garden varieties. Among them the most interesting are:
- Albostriata- a variety of lily of the valley, which, even after the end of the flowering period, pleases the eye of flower growers thanks to decorative creamy-white stripes covering the surface of the leaf plate.
- Aurea- a variety of lily of the valley with yellow leaves.
- Aureovariegata- lily of the valley with leaves that are covered with longitudinal yellow stripes.
- Flore Plena(Flore Pleino) is a lily of the valley with unusual white inflorescences, which consist of 10-12 fairly large double flowers. Plant height 15-25 cm.
- Grandiflora- lily of the valley with large white flowers and large green leaves. Has a very pleasant aroma.
- Green Tapestry- a variety of lily of the valley with variegated leaves of yellow-green color.
- Hofheim- a variety of lily of the valley, the leaves of which have a beige border. The flowers are white.
- prolificans - undersized variety lily of the valley with numerous double flowers of white color. It blooms for a long time and spreads a wonderful aroma.
- Rosea- a variety of lilies of the valley, known for its flowers, painted in soft pink tones. Up to 14 small flowers grow on one brush.
- Victor Ivanovich- a very tall lily of the valley. Its height reaches 50 cm. On the inflorescence there are from 9 to 19 large white flowers. It blooms for about 20 days, and then pleases gardeners with bright red fruits.
Properties of lily of the valley, benefits and applications in medicine.
Lily of the valley is a medicinal plant whose beneficial properties have been known since ancient times. All aerial parts of the plant (stems, leaves, flowers) are used as medicinal raw materials, which are collected during the period of abundant flowering.
Preparations made from lily of the valley are used as choleretic agents, as well as for the treatment of cholecystitis and inflammatory processes originating in the bile ducts of the liver. Lily of the valley drops are used to treat heart failure and poor circulation. With the help of preparations based on lily of the valley, they treat or alleviate the course of many diseases:
- neurosis and insomnia;
- elevated arterial pressure(hypertension);
- headache;
- some eye diseases;
- rheumatic conditions and atherosclerosis;
- fever;
- swelling;
- certain types of allergies.
Contraindications for taking drugs based on lily of the valley.
Despite the useful properties, the use of products made from parts of the lily of the valley should be done very carefully. Lily of the valley preparations have contraindications:
- acute or chronic liver / kidney disease;
- cardiosclerosis, endocarditis, myocarditis;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- pronounced organic changes in the cardiovascular system;
- myocardial infarction;
- angina;
- ventricular tachycardia;
- allergy;
- pregnancy;
- children's age (use with caution).
In any case, before taking medicines from lily of the valley, you should consult your doctor.
Lily of the valley harm, poisoning and symptoms.
Lily of the valley flowers have a very strong fragrance that can lead to headaches. That is why it is desirable to regularly ventilate the room in which there are flowers.
It should also be remembered that lily of the valley is poisonous plant. Lily of the valley berries (fruits) are especially poisonous. Therefore, medications and tinctures should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor, while strictly observing the doses. Symptoms of lily of the valley poisoning:
- dizziness and headache;
- severe nausea, which is soon replaced by continuous vomiting;
- drowsiness and general weakness;
- decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), up to cardiac arrest;
- convulsions;
- flickering before the eyes;
- loss of consciousness.
If such symptoms are observed, immediate resuscitation measures should be taken. Otherwise, death may occur.
To save the life of a person who has been poisoned by drugs made from lily of the valley, you must immediately call an emergency ambulance. While the team of doctors is on the way, you should:
- using a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or plain boiled water, rinse the affected stomach, causing a gag reflex;
- help the victim take any sorbent drug, which is suitable for activated charcoal, enterosgel, polysorb or sorbex;
- put a cleansing enema, achieving a reverse exit of clean water.
Lily of the valley - cultivation and care.
Lighting.
Lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant that is not demanding on natural conditions, is not afraid of frost, but does not tolerate drafts. It is comfortable for him to grow and bloom in a small shade of trees, shrubs, but if the shading is strong, then the lily of the valley may stop blooming.
How to grow lilies of the valley from seeds and vegetatively.
Wild lilies of the valley can reproduce by seeds from ripe berries, and the root system can grow to almost 25 cm during the year. Despite this, lily of the valley is a rather rare plant that is listed in the Red Book.
Garden, artificially bred forms of lilies of the valley come to the rescue of flower growers. Their only drawback is their lower frost resistance. Breeding species are also bred by sowing seeds in the ground, but more often they resort to the vegetative method - using rhizomes. In the first case, the plant can bloom only after 6 years, in the second - in the third year.
Growing lilies of the valley from seeds is quite simple. Lily of the valley seeds are sown at the very beginning of autumn, then by spring they will already germinate. You can sow them in the middle or late spring.
For vegetative propagation of lily of the valley, small pieces of rhizome with buds and roots are used as planting material. The diameter of the sprouts, the presence of a flower bud or leaf buds in them depend on the age of the root system. If the root in cross section exceeds 6 mm and has a rounded top, then flowering can be expected in the first year. If its diameter is smaller and the tip is sharp, only leaves will grow in the first year. The separation of the root system can be done both in autumn and in spring. When working with planting material, you need to wear gloves, as the plant is poisonous.
The soil.
Lilies of the valley prefer well-drained, neutral to low acidity loamy soil rich in organic compounds. The place where these flowers will grow must be prepared in advance. The depth of soil cultivation should be at least 30 cm. In the spring, the selected area should be dug up, adding the following substances and fertilizers to the soil per 1 m²:
- 200-300 g of lime;
- about 10 kg of humus;
- 40 g of potassium sulfate, as well as 100 g of superphosphate.
During the summer, you need to ensure that this area is not overgrown with weeds.
Planting lily of the valley in autumn.
The best period for planting planting material experienced gardeners consider the beginning and middle of autumn. Before planting cuttings, the soil is loosened, rows 15 cm deep are made at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. Lilies of the valley are planted at an interval of about 10 cm, trying not to bend the roots. The sprouts are sprinkled with soil only 1-2 cm. Immediately after planting, the site should be well watered. When the first frost occurs, it is advisable to cover the plot with young plants with mulch. This will help preserve the lilies of the valley if the winter is not snowy.
Planting lilies of the valley in spring.
Planting material can be planted in the spring, but such plants will be painful and will not bloom this season. Land for lilies of the valley should be prepared in the fall. In order for young shoots to take root more easily in open ground and not suffer from sudden changes in spring temperatures, rapid drying of the soil, and also from weeds, lily of the valley beds should be mulched. They are covered with a thin layer of humus or peat crumbs, and at night they are also covered with a film to protect them from frost.
Lily of the valley care.
Lilies of the valley do not require special care, but you still need to make sure that the ground under the flowers does not dry out in hot weather, otherwise they will bloom weakly. After watering, the soil should be loosened, and weeds should be removed as needed.
Lilies of the valley grow very quickly, crowding out other flower crops. In order to "keep" the plant within the flower bed, it is necessary to dig a barrier along its perimeter, deepening it by almost half a meter. In one place, these flowers can grow from 5 to 10 years. In prefabricated bouquets, they also behave quite aggressively, which leads to the rapid withering of other flowers.
Fertilizers.
The first application of well-rotted organic matter can be done as early as 30 days after planting the lily of the valley. Mineral fertilizers cannot be used at this time. To improve the decorative effect, lilies of the valley in the second and third years of life are fed with organic fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. This procedure is carried out in the middle of spring, introducing from 50 to 70 grams of top dressing per 1 m². Another top dressing can be done in June, when the laying of flower buds begins. The end result will be lilies of the valley with larger flowers.
Diseases of the lily of the valley.
Sometimes lilies of the valley strike gray rot, especially with severe waterlogging and a large thickening of the plot. You can get rid of the disease with the help of fungicides.
If the lily of the valley is affected nematode, then it should be immediately removed and burned.
Distillation of lilies of the valley.
Wild lilies of the valley do not tolerate experiments, and garden species (especially large-flowered ones) are often used for forcing.
Distillation is a widely used agricultural technique in floriculture that is used to ensure that plants bloom in the off-season for them.
Planting material for this is prepared in the middle and end of autumn. Pieces are cut from the upper part of the excavated lily of the valley root, in which large rounded apical buds are clearly visible. You should not cut cuttings longer than 5 cm. You can store them in a frost-free basement or cellar, in boxes, in an upright position, sprinkled with sand and covered with a frame. When frost intensifies, additional shelter is made of straw. Optimum temperature storage must be at least +1°C.
Before the early (December) forcing, lily of the valley sprouts are subjected to heat treatment. To do this, they are wrapped in wet moss and film, then sent for 21 days to a cold place with a temperature of -2 ° C. After "freezing", allowing them to move away slightly, "warm up" for 12 hours in a bath, the water temperature of which should be about 30 ° C.
Lily of the valley sprouts are planted in containers with previously prepared, loose and enriched with organic soil, laid in a layer of 3 to 5 cm. The sprouts must be carefully laid on the bottom, sprinkled with the rest of the soil on top and slightly leveled. The kidney tops should peek out of the ground by about 0.5 cm. Depending on the size, from 6 to 12 lilies of the valley can be planted in a container. Seedlings are well shed with warm water, and then, to maintain the necessary humidity, they are covered with moss or a layer of peat. Containers are sent for 10-12 days in dark room where the air temperature is maintained at 26-28°C and the ground temperature is around 21°C. Several times a day (2-3 times) it is necessary to spray lily of the valley seedlings with warm water (about 30 ° C) and ventilate for at least half an hour.
From the moment of germination of lilies of the valley, the containers are returned to a bright room and the covering material is removed. The soil continues to be kept moist, the temperature is kept within 30 ° C, but the plantings are sprayed less often, and aired more often. As soon as the lowest bell of the inflorescence is colored, the lilies of the valley stop watering, and the temperature is lowered to 16-18 ° C. With early forcing get flowering plants already on the 22-24th day from the moment of planting the sprouts.
For late distillation in the second half of January, warm baths are no longer made for sprouts. Otherwise, all the forces of the plant will go into the development of leaves, and flowering will be weak. Lilies of the valley, as in the first case, are planted in containers with ready ground or in greenhouses where the air temperature is kept at least 25°C. In February, it can be reduced by another 3-5 degrees. So that the flower stalks do not stretch very much, the darkening time is reduced, and on fine days the seedlings are shaded. All other steps used for late forcing are the same as those used for December forcing.
It should be remembered that a plant obtained by forcing does not form a new root system, therefore, after withering, it is not used for planting in the ground.
- A huge number of myths, fairy tales, legends are known about the lily of the valley. One of them explains why green lily of the valley berries turn orange or red at the end of summer. The flower grieved very much, mourning the departed spring. Little green "tears" rolled from his eyes. At the end of the summer, his "heart" could not stand it, and blood gushed out of him, coloring his "tears".
- In one of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Snow White's necklace crumbled when she ran away from her evil stepmother. The beads that fell on the grass turned into fragrant snow-white inflorescences of lily of the valley. The gnomes used these flowers as lanterns, and at night they served as a shelter for cheerful sunbeams.
- In myths ancient rome a story is mentioned that once happened to the beautiful goddess Diana. Carried away by the pursuit of game, she found herself in an unfamiliar forest. The fauns living there tried to catch her. From a fast and long run, fragrant droplets of sweat appeared on the body of the goddess, which, touching the ground, immediately turned into fragrant flowers.
- The British have their own history of the appearance of this plant. These are drops of the blood of St. Leonard, the patron saint of forests, fields and meadows, who fought with an evil dragon. Therefore, in England, lilies of the valley symbolize holiness and purity.
- Since the middle of the 16th century, every Sunday at the very beginning of spring, the French have been celebrating "Lily of the Valley Day". People give each other small real or embroidered bouquets, exchange souvenirs and postcards with the image or symbols of these flowers.
- The Dutch believe that if lilies of the valley are planted in the garden or in the house of the newlyweds, then their love will not fade away, but will bloom again and again in the spring.
- Few people know that the famous astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus was also an excellent doctor. Therefore, in many ancient portraits, artists depicted him holding a bunch of snow-white lilies of the valley in his hands, which is a symbol of a skilled healer.
Modest, but charming and attractive lily of the valley flowers are familiar, perhaps, to everyone. Lily of the valley is a monotypic plant, which means that in the genus "lily of the valley" there is only one species - the May lily of the valley. The name itself answers the question: “When do lilies of the valley bloom?”. This gentle unpretentious flower will please our eyes with its beauty in May. However, you can meet blooming lilies of the valley at the end of April and in the first half of June. This is due to the breadth of the lily of the valley distribution area, as well as some climate changes that have occurred in recent decades.
Lily of the valley is a perennial herbaceous plant, in its natural environment its height is from 15 to 30 cm. Garden lilies of the valley can grow up to 40 - 50 cm. But when they bloom after transplantation, it is difficult to predict - perhaps in the first year, but, more likely, this will happen in the second or third year after transplantation. In the garden, the lily of the valley can "capture" quite actively. Its root system is branched, thin but strong roots grow shallow from the soil surface in different directions for several meters. Growth buds form on the rhizome - these will be new plants. A clearing of lilies of the valley may turn out to be a single living organism, and a flower carpet of lilies of the valley is a couple of overgrown plants. Most often, from 3 to 5 grassroots sheets are hidden in the ground, they are scaly, small. There are 2 or 3 basal leaves, they are oblong, the tip of the leaf is pointed.
The leaves are quite large: the length is about 20 cm, and the width is about 8 cm. A single stem grows from a large bud located between the leaves, on the upper part of which a one-sided brush will form from 5-20 white or light pink flowers. They have the shape of a rounded bell with six teeth and up to 10 mm in diameter. The vertical rhizome forms leaves annually, and the flower-bearing stem - once every 2-3 years. But since the lily of the valley has a strong vegetative propagation, then real lily of the valley thickets are formed, it is difficult to track the flowering of an individual specimen, and an erroneous impression may be created that lilies of the valley bloom every year. They bloom within 15-20 days. Lily of the valley fruits are orange-red shiny berries, almost round in shape, 6-8 mm in diameter. They contain from two to eight seeds.
Where are lilies of the valley found?
Growth area of lilies of the valley:
- forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe,
- Western Siberia,
- Transbaikalia,
- Kurile Islands,
- Sakhalin,
- China,
- Japan,
- Amur region,
- Primorsky Krai,
- Crimea,
- Caucasus,
- North America.
Under natural conditions, lilies of the valley are found in coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests. But there are especially many such flowers in aspen, oak, birch. Lilies of the valley can also be found in meadows and mountain slopes. Lily of the valley loves shade, moisture and humus-rich soil. This plant is not afraid of frost, but does not like drafts. Many people succumbed to the temptation to bring an unusually fragrant bouquet of lilies of the valley from the forest. Today, this wonderful plant "dwells", unfortunately, also in the Red Book.
When lilies of the valley bloom in a private area, parents of young children should be especially attentive. Lily of the valley belongs to medicinal plants but he is poisonous! And berries are especially toxic.
