Perennial · Asparagaceae family
lily of the valley
Convallaria majalis
In short a 10-second read
Lily of the valley (perennial) grows to 0.15–0.25 m tall and 0.2–0.3 m wide when mature. It grows best in part shade to shade, in soil from dry to moist. It flowers in May–June; the flowers are white. Hardy to −37 °C.
× spread 0.2–0.3 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in part shade to shade, in soil from dry to moist. Hardy to −37 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May–June · white
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −37 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −37 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does lily of the valley flower?
In May–June; the flowers are white.
Does lily of the valley tolerate shade?
Yes, it tolerates full shade.
How much space does lily of the valley need?
At maturity 0.2–0.3 m wide and 0.15–0.25 m tall; recommended spacing 25 cm.
Does lily of the valley survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −37 °C.
Toxicity
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 15 expert sources. Last checked 18 October 2026.
Show sources (15)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- RHS Plant Finder
- Plants For A Future
- FloraWeb (BfN, DE)
- AOPK ČR — invazní rostliny
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Gärtnerei Strickler, katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Stauden-Stade
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Tox Info Suisse — Giftige Garten- und Wildpflanzen
- BfR / GIZ — Liste giftiger Pflanzenarten
- Giftzentrale Bonn (GIZ Bonn)
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia
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