Convallaria majalis (European Lily-of-the-valley)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Convallaria |
| Family: | Ruscaceae (Butcher's Broom) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Status: |
|
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; average to moist disturbed soil; deciduous woods, floodplains, old homesteads, |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 4 to 10 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/european-lily-of-the-valley_0522_120218.jpg)
Loose raceme of 5 to 15 stalked flowers at the tip of a naked stem. Flowers are white, up to ~1/3 inch (6 to 9 mm) long, bell-shaped with 6 lobes that curl back. Inside the tube are 6 short stamens. Flower stalks are up to ½ inch (7 to 12 mm) long and arranged so the flowers all nod to one side, and the whole raceme tends to arch or lean over from the weight of the flowers. At the base of the flower stalk is a thin green to brownish bract shorter than the stalk. Flowers are very fragrant.
Leaves:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/european-lily-of-the-valley_0522_120509.jpg)
Two or 3 leaves sit at the tip of an erect stalk 3 to 9+ inches (8 to 24 cm) long that is separate from the flowering stem. Leaves are 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) long and up to ~2 inches wide, elliptic, pointed at the tip, tapering to a sheathing base. Surfaces are hairless with numerous faint parallel veins, edges are smooth. Both flowering stems and leaf stalks are hairless and sheathed at the base. Colonies are formed from creeping rhizomes.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/european-lily-of-the-valley_0926_164741.jpg)
Fruit is a red berry ¼ to ½ inch (6 to 12 mm) diameter, containing up to 5 seeds. Not all plants produce flowers or fruit.
Notes:
This plant is a garden escapee, and toxic to both animals and humans. It is slow to spread but long lived once established and can form dense colonies, crowding out native species. There is a fairly large colony of this in the woods at a park near my home, which was a homestead about 100 years ago. When it's in bloom, the fragrance is intoxicating, and you can smell it long before you see it.
When flowers or fruit are present it is not easily mistaken for another species, but when leafing out in early spring it can be confused with native Wild Leeks (Allium spp.), the foliage of which has a distinct onion scent when crushed and leaves are separate, not at the tip of a common stalk, though that may not be obvious when leaves of either species first emerge. The leaf shape is also similar to Bluebead (Clintonia borealis), which emerges some weeks later; its leaves are more firm, have a more prominent central vein, and are also not at the tip of a common stalk. The flowers have been mistaken for a Pyrola, which has different leaves that are much shorter and rounded at the tip.
Some references list multiple vars where others make them separate species. The two known to be in North America are the European C. majalis (var. majalis) and the native C. pseudomajalis (a.k.a. C. majalis var. montana or C. majuscula), which is restricted to mountain forests in the Piedmont region of the southeastern US; it is a larger plant with larger leaves and usually lacks rhizomes.
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More photos
European Lily-of-the-valley plant
European Lily-of-the-valley plants
established in a woodland that was once a homestead
flowering stem emerging in early to mid May
herbarium specimen showing plant structure
European Lily-of-the-valley plant
European Lily-of-the-valley plants
established in a woodland that was once a homestead
flowering stem emerging in early to mid May
herbarium specimen showing plant structurePhotos by K. Chayka taken in Anoka and Ramsey counties. Herbarium specimen image in the public domain, via SEINET.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-03-22 17:53:03
Lily of the Valley, is my absolute favorite flower. From my youth, late 1950's through the sixties we would search for them on the protected sides of the trees that were a part of the woods on our property. In addition, my grandmother grew them on the north side of her home at the base of some fern plants. I was always fascinated by the bells and often imagined what sound they would make if they rang.
on: 2009-03-23 12:15:24
They do have a lovely scent, too bad they are not native to MN. At least they aren't as invasive as some, but they do colonize and can create monocultures, though slowly.
on: 2010-04-30 08:51:39
They grow contained in a flower bed intermingled with hostas along the front of the house and in a small patch by my deck in the back yard, I love the smell.
on: 2010-05-12 18:21:24
I just found a group of these today on the small trail on the east side of the Shoreview Community Center.
on: 2011-05-21 14:09:59
Found a small colony of these in bloom yesterday (5/20/2011) at Northwood Park - on a less trodden forest path.
on: 2011-06-16 22:14:48
Several plants on the perimeter of my backyard. They look really cool.
on: 2011-08-27 14:26:08
I've had them in South Minneapolis, Richfield and Edina. I didn't plant any of them. They're my "birthday flower" and my husband picks a tiny vase of them on my birthday each year. They ARE adorable - and the scent is something else.
on: 2012-05-22 20:25:59
These are growing in my backyard on the north side of our neighbor's garage.
on: 2014-06-24 21:21:11
There are several patches growing along the Tischer Creek trail in Duluth. Now blooming (end of June).
on: 2014-12-25 11:26:29
Late May, 2014 -Came across a smaller patch of these on the S side of Fish Lake on the Fish Lake Nature Trail east of the UofM Cedar Creek area.
on: 2017-06-04 07:53:16
Small patch of this growing alongside Chester Creek in Duluth
on: 2018-05-12 22:46:21
They were mixed in with the hostas in front when we bought our house in Fridley; I didn't realize it until years later when I separated the hostas and transplanted some to the backyard. I'm in the process of redoing the back garden and spread them around a bit last fall, and they're doing really great this spring.
on: 2018-07-28 04:05:14
A pleasant surprise to find them growing in my front yard this year. I was outside my home in Northwestern Minnesota photographing all the wildflowers and nature last month, and was lucky enough to get quite a few snaps of them. There were about 10 of then growing along the front of my house. I had never seen them before, so beautiful!
on: 2019-06-16 11:58:50
I have these on the East side of my house and in the garden on the north side of my house. I didn't plant them. They've surely spread over the years. They're beautiful.
on: 2019-10-16 14:01:31
I found a bunch of these next to the green utility box in the corner of my yard. It has spread into to the neighbors yard too.
on: 2022-05-25 06:52:29
This plant becomes a huge problem when it escapes to natural areas.
on: 2023-06-04 17:32:04
My family when we lived in Coon Rapids, MN. We had Lilies of the Valley on the north side of our house. They were given to us by a former neighbor when I was a young kid. I don't know if they are there anymore.
on: 2025-04-10 04:02:10
These grew on the North side of our Rochester, MN home along the foundation. I'm not sure if Gram Della planted them, but I remember looking for them as a sign of Spring. Also lilacs and peonies; my other favorite flowers growing up in MN.