Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Asparagaceae

27th May 2020

I was so worried that I had missed the Lily of the Valley in the garden this spring, or at least had not spent enough time with it, that, on my wildflower hunt this morning I was so very happy to come across a whole patch of it, contentedly growing close to a stream.

I spotted the little white bulbous flowers first, nearer the path, just two or three flowers per stem, but closer to the stream and on the banks, the plants grew in size and assurance with ten flowers at least on a stem.

Just so beautiful, and crouching closer, that amazing scent drifting on the air.  If you’ve never spent any time with a collection of Lily of the Valley plants, you really must, the fragrance is almost surprisingly grown-up for a flower that looks as though it belongs to a little girl.

Collins says, ‘Creeping perennial of dry woodland, usually on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Bell-shaped, white… FRUITS Red berries LEAVES oval and basal’ I am very happy for it to creep wherever it pleases, such a glorious fragrance and pure white flowers that remind me of tiny bonnets, contrasting so beautifully with their smooth elliptical green leaves.

I like that their Latin name is simply to the point, Convallaria, from convallium, meaning ‘a valley’, the place they like to grow the most.  Majalis translates as ‘May’ the month in which they tend to flower, but do not worry, they carry on through June too, so lots of time left!  A super place to see Convallaria in all her glory in Britain is in St Leonard’s Forest in Sussex - the tale goes that St Leonard slew a dragon in this forest, and during his tussle with the dragon, some of the Saint’s blood fell to the ground, and ‘the lilies sprang forth’.

And this year, for the virtual Chelsea Flower Show, the Queen chose Lily of the Valley as her favourite flower. A very noble flower indeed!

Alice x