Giant lily of the valley Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux

Credit: Walter's garden

Giant lily of the valley Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux' flowers

Credit: Walter's gardens

White bell-shaped flowers giant lily of the valley

Credit: Walter's gardens

Giant lily of the valley Convallaria majalis

Credit: Walter's gardens

Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux', the giant lily of the valley

Contrary to what its name might suggest, Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux' produces white flowers. However, this horticultural variety is larger and more floriferous than may Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis).

How to recognize the giant lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux'?

Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux' is an upright perennial flowering plant. It can reach 40 centimetres in all directions.

Its root system enables the plant to extend its territory. It consists of a trailing rhizome, buds and adventitious roots.

The green, quadrangular stem does not branch. A brown or purplish sheath covers its base.

The bright green leaves are rounded and thick. They resemble tulip leaves.

Fragrant flowering begins in April and lasts several weeks. The white flowers are larger and more numerous than those of May Lily or pink Lily of the Valley Valley (Convallaria majalis rosea). There are up to twelve bells per sprig, compared with just nine in other varieties.

Once pollinated, the flowers produce orange berries.

The berries, like the flowers and the rest of the plant, are poisonous. Lily of the valley contains saponins, a substance that causes digestive and cardiac problems when ingested. Keep your Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux' out of the reach of small children and pets.

Our maintenance tips

Have you decided to plant a few sprigs of Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux in your garden? Think again! The plant has a trailing rhizome and can quickly establish itself in places where it hasn't been invited. What's more, it is extremely toxic to humans and animals if ingested.

Watering

Allow the potting soil to dry for at least a centimetre. Water the substrate with rainwater at room temperature.

Empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter. It will rot the roots and may kill your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux.

Repotting

Pour a layer of potting soil for flowering plants into a perforated pot. Plant your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux in the center. Add substrate to reach rootball level. Pack gently.

Water until the water runs out of the drainage holes to encourage rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux', apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Apply flowering plant fertilizer to stimulate flowering.

Prune

Remove spent flowers before they set seed. Their production exhausts the plant.

Plantation

Before planting your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux, work the soil. Pull out weeds and roots to a length of about 20 centimetres around the planting area.

Then dig a hole fifteen to twenty centimetres deep. Place a little compost or potting soil at the bottom to enrich the soil.

Plant your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux, spreading out the roots. You can fill in the hole with your own garden soil. But if your soil is heavy, add a little sand to lighten it.

Water generously to help the plant establish itself.

Cutting

Cutting takes place in autumn.

Your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux has a creeping rhizome. You can cut off part of it to propagate the plant.

Take advantage of repotting to gain access to the root system. If you have planted your Lily of the valley 'Bordeaux in the ground, you can dig a hole around the plant. Ten or fifteen centimetres deep is enough to find the roots.

Using a clean, sharp knife, remove a claw, i.e. A horizontal root with adventitious roots and a bud. Then fill in the hole or repot your plant.

Dig a hole about five centimetres deep. Remove weeds and stones.

Plant your Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux'. Be sure to install the cutting the right way round: the point should face upwards.

Cover the cutting with five centimetres of soil. You can use your own garden soil. If your soil is heavy, lighten it with a little sand.

Water generously to help the plant settle.

Diseases / Threats

Slugs

Snails

Information

Family	Asparagaceae - Asparagaceae
Type	Lily of the valley - Convallaria
Species	May Lily of the Valley - Convallaria majalis
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Half-shade Shade
Substrats	Calcareous earth Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots Planter
Categories	Rhizome Flowery
Tags	Beginner Invasive Toxic
Origins	Northern Europe Eastern Europe Southern Europe Western Europe
Hardiness (USDA)	7b
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color