 Convallaria majalis 'Aureovariegata'
- Click here to visit our Main Plant List page for current availability of this plant
- common names: lily of the valley
- flowering season: early spring
- height: 6 to 10 inches
- Light requirements: full shade to partial shade
- Soil requirements: not fussy, average soil is perfectly o.k.
- Water requirments: a normal amount of water for a garden
- Growth habit: spreads as a groundcover
- How to propagate: dividing in late spring or in fall
- Leaf type: oval leaves striped lengthwise in creamy yellow
- Ways to use it such as in a pot or otherwise: most often seen as a widening groundcover under shrubs and trees
- Special characteristics: the “pips” (the underground short, thickened shoots from which next year's leaves and flowers will grow) can be forced to flower indoors; one way to do this is to dig the roots in winter or in early spring before the growth has started, looking for the fattest “pips” to pot, and plant them with their tips just below the soil's surface -- they will bring a sweet fragrance into the house
Lily-of-the-valley is an attractive old fashioned groundcover for large shady areas. Small purplish "eyes" called “pips” appear at ground level in early spring, that develop into eight-inch long pointed green leaves that are striped lengthwise with creamy markings. Highly fragrant bell-shaped white flowers come in spring. Orange-red berries are occasionally produced in the fall. These are poisonous. While tolerant of most soil conditions, moist soil that is rich and slightly acidic is preferred for these woodland natives. Plants multiply rapidly in favorable conditions, and should not be planted if their spreading would be a problem. An excellent plant for use as a ground cover under deciduous shade trees or for naturalizing in an open shady expanse. Occasionally a shoot with all-green leaves will appear that should be removed to keep your spreading colony well clothed in these striped leaves. |
|
