Pink lily of the valley Convallaria majalis rosea

Credit: Andrey Zharkikh

Pink flowers lily of the valley Convallaria majalis rosea

Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Pink bell flowers lily of the valley Convallaria majalis rosea

Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Lily of the valley leaves Convallaria majalis rosea

Credit: David J Stang

Convallaria majalis rosea, pink lily of the valley

When you think of lily of the valley, you probably think of little white bells. But did you know that there's also lily of the valley with pink flowers? This is Convallaraia majalis rosea, a horticultural variety obtained from Convallaria majalis (Convallaria majalis).

How to recognize pink lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis rosea?

A flowering perennial, pink lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis rosea) grows to a height of 25 centimeters and a spread of 30 centimeters. It has an upright, slightly drooping habit.

The plant spreads thanks to a trailing rhizome divided into several sections: the claws. Each has a bud and underground roots.

A brown or purple sheath covers the base of the green stem. Quadrangular, it never branches.

Each stem bears two green leaves, rarely three. Oval to lanceolate, the blades are thick and ridged.

Fragrant flowers bloom in spring in groups of four to ten. Pale pink, they are bell-shaped.

Convallaria majalis rosea is highly toxic if ingested by humans or animals. The plant causes digestive and cardiac disorders that can lead to death. Keep your pink lily of the valley out of the reach of young children, dogs and cats.

Our maintenance tips

Have you decided to plant a few sprigs of Lily of the valley pink 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 pink.

Repotting

Pour a layer of potting soil for flowering plants into a perforated pot. Plant your Lily of the valley pink 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 rosea, 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 pink, 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 pink, 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 pink 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 pink 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 rosea. 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