• Photo of Convallaria pseudomajalis (Convallaria pseudomajaliss)

Plant Profile: Convallaria pseudomajalis

Names

Lily of the Valley, Lily-Of-The-Valley

  • Photo of Convallaria pseudomajalis (Convallaria pseudomajaliss)

Phonetic Spelling:kon-vuh-LAIR-ee-uh soo-doh-maj-AH-liss

Genus:Convallaria

Species:pseudomajalis

Family:Asparagaceae

Lily of the Valley is a wildflower indigenous to the Southern Appalachians, thriving in the mountainous regions and Piedmont of North Carolina. This plant typically flourishes in mountain forests, especially in rocky or sandy dry woodlands, often found beneath oak trees at elevations ranging from 700 to 1500 meters. It propagates through underground rhizomes, allowing it to create small colonies. The plant produces fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring, typically from April to June, on short stalks.

For optimal growth, Lily of the Valley requires well-drained soil enriched with compost and prefers partial to dappled shade, making it well-suited for areas beneath trees or in woodland settings. Once established, it demonstrates good drought resistance.

Convallaria pseudomajalis Feature Summary

Convallaria pseudomajalis Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#poisonous
#white flowers
#perennial bulb
#shade garden
#mass planting
#NC native
#deer browsing plant
#bell shape
#small plant
#spring interest
#walkways
#partial shade tolerant
#bee friendly
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Convallaria pseudomajalis Feature Summary

Attributes
Southern Appalachia of USA
WV, VA, KY, TN, NC, SC, and GA.
Bees are attracted to the flowers. Deer will browse the plant and wild hogs will dig the rhizomes.
Not necessary
Perennial
Fruit
The fruit is a round red berry but seldom formed
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
Flowers
6-10 small white bell-shaped flowers that dangle below the stem. The flowers are about 1/3" across and long. Blooms April-June.
< 1 inch
Leaves
2, sometimes 3 basal leaves are widely elliptic to oblanceolate, 9" long and 3-4" wide. The tip is pointed and leaf base tapers and wraps around the leaf stalk.
Elliptical
Oblanceolate
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Irregular and slow pulse, abdominal pain and diarrhea if eaten in large quantities.
Cardiac glycosides and saponins
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Fairy Garden
Mass Planting
Walkways
Woodland
Small Space
Poisonous to Humans

Convallaria pseudomajalis Attributes

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southern Appalachia of USA

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Distribution

WV, VA, KY, TN, NC, SC, and GA.

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Wildlife Value

Bees are attracted to the flowers. Deer will browse the plant and wild hogs will dig the rhizomes.

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Bulb Storage

Not necessary

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Convallaria pseudomajalis Fruit

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Fruit Description

The fruit is a round red berry but seldom formed

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Fruit Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Convallaria pseudomajalis Flowers

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Description

6-10 small white bell-shaped flowers that dangle below the stem. The flowers are about 1/3" across and long. Blooms April-June.

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Convallaria pseudomajalis Leaves

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Description

2, sometimes 3 basal leaves are widely elliptic to oblanceolate, 9" long and 3-4" wide. The tip is pointed and leaf base tapers and wraps around the leaf stalk.

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Convallaria pseudomajalis Poisonous to Humans

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Poison Symptoms

Irregular and slow pulse, abdominal pain and diarrhea if eaten in large quantities.

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Poison Toxic Principle

Cardiac glycosides and saponins

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Convallaria pseudomajalis Whole Plant Traits

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Convallaria pseudomajalis Cultural Conditions

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Convallaria pseudomajalis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Convallaria pseudomajalis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Convallaria pseudomajalis Stem

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Convallaria pseudomajalis Landscape

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Convallaria pseudomajalis: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy