Two broad leaves at the base and an arching, one-sided spike of nodding, sweetly scented white bells in May, later followed by red berries
Lily of the valley — Convallaria majalis.
Nature · Wildflowers & flowers
Lily of the valley
Native · flowers May–Jun · dry, chalky ancient woodland and limestone
Convallaria majalis — Asparagaceae
Lily of the valley is a fragrant woodland perennial with a pair of broad leaves and a drooping, one-sided spike of white bells in May and June, followed by red berries. It is a local plant of dry, lime-rich woods in England and is an ancient woodland indicator. Every part is poisonous, and its leaves are dangerously easy to confuse with wild garlic.
How to spot them
- ▸Two (sometimes three) oval, untoothed, parallel-veined leaves rising as a pair from the base, wrapped round each other at first
- ▸A one-sided, arching spike of pure white, sweetly scented, nodding, bell-shaped flowers in May and June
- ▸Bright red berries follow; they are poisonous
- ▸Look-alike: wild garlic (Allium ursinum) — leaves on separate stalks from the base, unmistakably garlicky smell and star-shaped flowers; lily of the valley has no garlic smell. Eating the wrong one is dangerous
- ▸Solomon's-seal has alternate leaves up an arching stem and tubular flowers; may lily (Maianthemum bifolium) has heart-shaped leaves halfway up the stem
How to know it
Its leaves are dangerously easy to mistake for those of wild garlic, but lack the garlic smell and grow in a pair
Lily of the valley — poisonous.
Folklore says it first bloomed where Eve's tears fell as she left the Garden of Eden, giving it the names Our Lady's tears and Mary's tears
Lily of the valley.
Known as May bells, this perfume plant is a popular flower in wedding bouquets
Lily of the valley.
Traditional heart tonics were made from this poisonous woodland plant, whose berries and leaves are toxic
Lily of the valley.
An ancient-woodland indicator plant of dry chalky woods, not common in Scotland or Ireland
Lily of the valley.
Quick-fire facts
- •Family Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae or Convallariaceae); Convallaria majalis — majalis means 'of May'
- •Woodland Trust: flowers May to June; favours dry, chalky soils and limestone pavements; not common in Scotland or Ireland
- •An ancient woodland indicator, though it occurs in other woodland types
- •All parts, including the red berries, are poisonous
- •Common names: May bells, Our Lady's tears, Mary's tears
- •Said to have first bloomed where Eve's tears fell as she left the Garden of Eden
- •Popular in wedding bouquets and as a perfume scent, and used in traditional medicine as a tonic for heart problems
- •Bees collect pollen from it, attracted by the sweet smell
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Sources
- Woodland Trust — Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)