Lily of the Valley
May's fragrant birth flower — nodding white bells with a famous scent, traditionally a symbol of returning happiness.
Also known as: Convallaria majalis
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is the traditional birth flower for May. A shade-loving woodland perennial with arching sprays of small, intensely fragrant white bells, it has long symbolised sweetness, humility, and the return of happiness — though every part of it is poisonous.
What it is
Despite its common name, lily of the valley is not a true lily; it is Convallaria majalis, and the species name majalis means "of May," fitting its role as May's birth flower.
Botany. The plant grows from creeping underground rhizomes, sending up pairs of broad leaves and a slender stem hung with a row of nodding, bell-shaped white flowers. Its scent is one of the most celebrated in the plant world. Importantly, the entire plant — leaves, flowers, and the red berries that follow — contains cardiac glycosides and is toxic if eaten, so it should be kept away from children and pets.
Care basics. It thrives in cool, moist, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, naturalising into a dense ground cover under trees and shrubs. It spreads by rhizome and can be vigorous, so it is best given a spot where it can roam. Once established in the right shady conditions it needs very little care.
Meaning and tradition. In the language of flowers, lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness, sweetness, humility, and purity. In France, sprigs are traditionally exchanged on the first of May as tokens of good fortune. Its association with weddings and springtime reflects this hopeful symbolism, and it famously featured in some royal wedding bouquets. These meanings are cultural traditions, not properties of the plant.
Growing notes. Lily of the valley is usually planted from small rooted crowns known as "pips," set out in autumn or early spring. It resents being disturbed once settled and may take a season to establish before spreading in earnest. Because it can outcompete more delicate neighbours, gardeners often confine it to a defined area or use it deliberately as weed-suppressing ground cover under shrubs.
As May's birth flower, it is beloved for scent and delicacy — a beautiful, easy shade plant that nonetheless deserves respect for its toxicity.
Worked example
A gardener with a damp, shaded border under trees plants lily of the valley as ground cover, where its rhizomes knit into a fragrant carpet that sun-loving plants could never manage. Because every part is toxic, they site it away from where children play. Cut into a small May-Day posy, it carries the traditional French meaning of good luck and the return of happiness.
Related entries
Sources & further reading
- Convallaria majalis — Royal Horticultural Society (article)
- Lily of the valley — Encyclopaedia Britannica (article)