10 things you may not know about lily of the valley

Article for :All parent plants

Everyone knows lily of the valley, with its delicate white bell-shaped flowers and refreshing fragrance that evokes the return of fine weather. But the plant hides many secrets!

#1 Lily of the valley is actually..

You've heard of lily of the valley, but do you know its scientific name?

The scientific name for lily of the valley is Convallaria majalis. This name is thought to mean "lily of the valleys", from the Latin convallis (valley) and the Greek leirion (lily).

In everyday language, the lily of the valley sold on May 1st is also known as May Lily of the Valley, muguet commun, lis des vallées or clochette des bois. Our English-speaking neighbors call the plant Mary's tears.

#2 Lily of the valley belongs to the same family as asparagus and agave

Japanese lily of the valley makes an excellent ground cover - Photo by Yaoli /iNaturalist

According to phylogenetic classification, Convallaria majalis belongs to the Asparagaceae family. This family includes species as diverse as asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), agave, hyacinth (Yacinthus), yucca and fragrant Dragonwood (Dracaena fragrans). Lily of the valley and the other Asparagaceae are all descended from the same ancestor, but these species have evolved differently.

According to classical classification, lily of the valley belongs to the Liliaceae family, a group that includes tulips (Tulipa), lilies (Lilium) and fritillaries (Fritillaria). This system is based on resemblance between species. For example, lily of the valley's leaves resemble those of tulips, and its flowers are similar in shape to those of fritillaries.

#3 There are several types of lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis rosea has pinkish flowers - Photo by Leonora Enking /Flickr

There is not one, but several types of lily of the valley. The May lily of the valley has white bell-shaped flowers. It comes in a variety with pink flowers (Convallaria majalis rosea) and a plant with more numerous, larger flowers (Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux').

Ophiopogon japonicus is also known as Japanese lily of the valley. However, this perennial plant with its blue berries and bushy foliage has little in common with the common lily of the valley and its white flowers!

#4 Lily of the valley is a hardy plant

Convallaria majalis can withstand snow and frost - Photos by Gilles Ayotte / Wikipedia

Lily of the valley is hardy. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -20°C. Convallaria majalis grows wild in most of the northern hemisphere. Its white flowers can be found in Ukrainian forests, Scandinavian undergrowth and the gardens of New York, Nashville and Portland.

Lily of the valley, on the other hand, doesn't thrive around the Mediterranean. The climate, too dry, probably has something to do with it.

#5 You should think twice before planting lily of the valley in your garden

Prevent your pets from drinking the water in the vase. It's toxic - Photo by Svetlana Kravtsova /Pexels

Lily of the valley is toxic. All parts of the plant contain saponosides, a substance harmful to humans and animals. Ingestion of the leaves, flowers or berries causes nausea, vomiting, digestive disorders and even heart abnormalities. You can also get sick by drinking water from the vase in which you've kept your Convallaria majalis.

As well as being toxic, lily of the valley is an invasive plant. It grows rapidly thanks to its underground roots, called claws. Easy to propagate, Convallaria majalis can become invasive in the open ground and take over from other species. If you want to plant it in your garden, the Monstera team advises you to plant it in a pot or window box!

#6 Lily of the valley doesn't always bloom on May 1st

Rain, snow or shine, you'll find lily of the valley everywhere on May 1st - Photo by Frédérique Voisin-Demery /Flickr

Lily of the valley blooms in spring. When winter has been mild and April sunny, its bells may appear before May Day. But more often than not, they bloom a few weeks later. In some years, or in certain regions, they can even wait until the beginning of June!

To make sure you find lily of the valley in bloom on May 1st, nurseries vie with each other in care and imagination. Storage in cold rooms, heated greenhouses, grow lights... Everything is done to ensure a harvest on D-Day!

#7 Lily of the valley has given rise to many legends

Saint-Léonard, the dragon and the lily of the valley - AI-generated image

Lily of the valley has inspired many legends. The oldest dates back to Antiquity. Apollo, the god of music and song, is said to have created the lily of the valley for his nymphs. Rather than have them walk barefoot on the grass, he rolled out a carpet of white flowers for them.

Christians tell a different tale. For them, lily of the valley flowers were born from the tears shed by the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross. Or the blood lost by Saint Leonard during his battle with a dragon.

#8 Lilies of the valley have been sold since the 16th century

Street vendors didn't wait for Pétain and 1941 to set up their stalls on May 1st - Photo by Agence Rol / BNF

The tradition of offering lilies of the valley for good luck dates back to Charles IX. The story has several versions, but it seems that on May 1, 1560, Chevalier Louis de Girard de Maisonforte gave the King a sprig of lily of the valley from his garden. Touched by the gesture, the King decreed that lilies of the valley should be given to court ladies every year.

The tradition continued until 1793. Fabre d'Églantine created the republican calendar. He introduced Labor Day on May 1 and brought forward Lily of the Valley Day to April 26.

It wasn't until 1941 that the lily of the valley became the symbol of Labor Day. Until then, the official May 1st flower was the red rosehip. Pétain deemed the plant too socialist and decided to replace it with the lily of the valley.

#9 The lily of the valley is..

The lily of the valley is one of the symbols of Finland - Post of Finland /Wikipedia

The lily of the valley is not just a symbol of May Day. Finland has made Convallaria majalis its official flower. In Finnish, lily of the valley is called kielo. While this once-popular feminine first name may be on the wane, it's still very popular with breeders as a name for... Their favorite cow!

Lily of the valley was Christian Dior's lucky flower. He almost always wore a sprig in his buttonhole and had some sewn into the hem of his creations. But the plant played a role far beyond mere superstition! It inspired the designer's Muguet dress, a white dress embroidered with bells, and a line of tableware. The refreshing scent of Convallaria majalis can also be found in some of the house's most famous perfumes, such as Diorissimo and Miss Dior.

Finally, Rugby Club Toulon has also chosen the lily of the valley as its emblem. RC Toulon's tribute to Félix Mayol. The singer of Viens Poupoule, who was one of the club's patrons, always wore a sprig of lily of the valley as a buttonhole during his concerts.

#10 Anyone can sell lilies of the valley on May 1st

As a private individual, you can't set up a stand with tables and chairs - Photo by Rémi Vincent / Flickr

In France, you normally need authorization to sell on the public highway. But not on May 1st! Individuals and associations can start selling lilies of the valley without asking for permission.

There are, however, a few rules to observe. For example, you must sell only wild lily of the valley, picked in the woods or in your own garden. What's more, you're not allowed to add any wrapping or compose a bouquet with other flowers. Finally, the sale must not take place near a florist.

By Servane Nemetz
on 25-03-2025 at 15h09