Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Family: Asparagaceae

Subfamily: Nolinoideae (= former Ruscaceae)

Related Genera: Polygonatum, Ruscus

Names: Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-heaven, Male Lily, Mary's Tears, May lily, May bells, Muguet, Our Ladie's Tears

General: Perennial, woodland flowering plant, native to the Northern hemisphere in Asia, Europe and the USA, forming large colonies through rhizomes. They bear white, sometimes also pink, sweet fragrant flowers, typically in May, with bright red fruits riping from June to September, which may contain 2-3 seeds. Propagation from seed is possible, though not easy. Also, the plants are self-sterile and colonies springing from one single clone will not set seed at all.

History & Folklore: Commonly viewed as a herald of spring, life and Easter. In the language of flowers it signals the return of happiness. It was sacred to Pagan goddess Ēostre /Ostara, and was representative of her purity and humility. In Christianity it is also known as Our Ladie's Tears and Mary's Tears. Sacred to the virgin mother Mary, the flower was believed to have sprung from the tears she shed during the crucifixion. In the bible is mentioned another flower by the name Lily of the Valleys, which may have been a possible origin for the name now attributed to C. majalis. In another legend the flower is believed to have sprung from the tears shed by Eve when driven with Adam from the Garden of Eden. In religious paintings it commonly represents humility and the Second Coming of Christ. It stands also for the power in men to envision a better world. The flower is also sacred to Frankish St. Leonard of Noblac, who battled a dragon.

The scientific name majalis means "belonging to the month of May". In astrological magic the plant is traditionally associated with Mercury, possibly because the Greek Maia, goddess and name-sake for the month of may, was the mother of Hermes, to which Mercury was the Roman equivalent.

Medicinal & Toxicological: C. majalis contains 38 known cardiac glycosides, such as convallamarin, which has digitalis-like effects, and is applied as a cardio tonic and diuretic. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Ingestion of only small amounts can cause gastric pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and a lowered heart rate in humans. Poisoning through ingestion is treated with emetics and the stomache-pump. Atropine  and nitrites are given as antidote.

C. majalis also contains bourgeonal, an aromatic aldehyde, which stimulates olfactory senses in males and activates attracts mammal sperm. It is used commercially in perfume industry.

The plant contains further saponines, which are little understood up to date. Saponines are known mostly for their piscicidal usage amongst indigenous people.

Sowing & Growing: Difficult to grow from seed. Cold Germinator. Best use fresh seeds, directly taken from the ripe fruits. Sow ca. 1 cm deep, into seed sowing compost, which has been mixed with sand and loam. The soil should be rich, loose and well drained. It can be mixed with 50% loam. Use small containers that you place directly in the ground or on a seed bench in a green-house, which is not temperature regulated during the winter. If left to germinate under natural conditions, sow directly in September/October or by the end of winter. Otherwise place your sowing containers first at 18-22°C.  After 2-4 weeks you can move them outdoors in the winter or in the fridge and keep them at -4-4°C for at least 1 month. If kept in the fridge it might be better to not sow in soil but use a substrate and paper towels. After 4-6 weeks you should change the surrounding temperature to 5-12°C. Or simply move sowing containers outdoors in spring. In nature they will germinate stimulated by the rise of temperatures, sunlight and snow melt. Germination time will vary, depending on the conditions and age of seeds, from a couple of weeks to 1 year. Young plants may not like to be transplanted, so make sure you sow them at least 5 cm apart from each other, so that they have enough space to grow. If grown in a container use some fertilizer.

Once grown succesfully you can plant them out in the first year, preferably in September. Choose a place in semi-shade, where morning and evening sun reaches, with rich, well drained soil. They spread easily through rhizomes and soon develop large colonies, unless they do not like the place you planted them. Growing them from seed takes a lot of time. They will not flower before the 3rd, sometimes only by the 5th year. They will flower only once.

Sources: Wikipedia, Henriette's Herbal, Additional sources to be added

Photos: Wiebke Rost