Plant Min Zone: 3a
Plant Max Zone: 7a
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade, Deep Shade
Water / Rainfall: Average
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Spring
Flower Color: White
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green, Yellow
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: Yes
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low, Medium
Humidity Tolerance: Low
Wind Tolerance: Low, Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils, Rocky Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 0.5' - 0.75'
Width: 1' - 2'
Growth Rate: Medium
Service Life: Very Long: 10-20 years
Maintenance Need: Medium
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Medium Grouping of 5-10, Mass Planting of 10 or more
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Tolerates Damp Full Shade, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Emerges Early in Spring
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover, Lawn Substitute, Naturalizing
Possible Pest Problems: Weed Competition, Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: Aggressive Rhizomes / Runners, Environmental Stress / Decline, May be Poisonous
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is planted for its elliptic shiny green leaves and white aromatic bell-shaped flowers. Foliage maintains well all summer provided that certain cultural conditions are met. Native to Europe, it colonizes forests and can be invasive in parts of the northern US but not so much in Kansas. It can spread rapidly in humusy, medium well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. It can handle some Kansas drought in in moisture-retentive soils but not dry-shade. Foliage will flatten to the ground during drought then spring back up when moisture is available again. Generally however, in non-irrigated or poor soil areas, this plant will decline and allow weeds to intermix. As far as Kansas landscape uses, Lily of the Valley can form a dense, weed resistant groundcover in rich soils, but also spread into other plants. Don't mix with other perennials or groundcovers; shrubs and taller perennials such as hostas are ok. Spring scented flowers are quite attractive combining well with the dark green foliage and thus very popular in woodland gardens.