Convallaria majalis

This introduced perennial plant consists of 2 leaves that are nearly basal and a single raceme of flowers. The leaves are up to 9" long, 4" across, and more or less erect; they are dark green, oval-ovate, smooth along the margins, and hairless. The veins of the leaves are parallel. The leaf bases are attached to a short basal stalk with several sheaths. The raceme of flowers is shorter than leaves (about 6" tall) and tends to nod at its apex; there are about 6-14 flowers per raceme. The flowers usually nod downward along one side of the raceme from slender pedicels about ½" long. Both the central stalk and pedicels of the raceme are green and hairless. Each flower has a bell-shaped white corolla up to 1/3" long and across; along the outer rim of this corolla are 6 short lobes that curve outward. Within the corolla, there are 6 stamens with short filaments and a single style with a tripartite stigma. The ovary has 3 cells. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The flowers are quite fragrant. Fertile flowers develop into red berries up to 1/3" across that are globoid in shape. The interior of each berry is juicy and contains several seeds. In North America, most flowers fail to produce berries. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Dense colonies of vegetative plants are produced from the rhizomes; these colonies tend to exclude other species of plants.

In addition to its cultivation in gardens, Lily-of-the-Valley has economic significance in the perfume and pharmaceutical industries. For the latter, it has been used as a source of heart medication. This species is listed in the Weedy Wildflower section because it is introduced, rather than native, and sometimes persists in natural habitats, particularly when there is some history of disturbance. Identification of this species is easy during the blooming period because of its distinctive racemes of flowers.

Lily-of-the-Valley has escaped from cultivation primarily in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is uncommon in natural areas. This species was introduced to the United States from Europe as a horticultural plant; it is often grown in gardens because of the attractive foliage and flowers. According to some authorities, there is a native form of Lily-of-the-Valley in the region of the Appalachian mountains, although it cultivated less often than the European form. In Illinois, habitats include an upland area of a tamarack bog, rich deciduous woodlands, cemetery prairies, oak savannas near cemetery prairies, and former homestead sites. At some of these habitats, Lily-of-the-Valley was deliberately introduced and has persisted for several decades, notwithstanding long neglect.

Convallaria majalis L.:
Burma (Asia)
China (Asia)
Japan (Asia)
Mongolia (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hunan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia; Europe, North America].

Canada

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Plants 18--30 cm tall, glabrous. Petiole 8--20 cm; leaf blade abaxially glaucescent, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 7--20 × 3--8.5 cm, base cuneate, apex subacute to acuminate. Scape slightly arching, 15--30 cm. Bracts lanceolate, 3--6 mm, much shorter than pedicel. Pedicel slightly curved, 0.6--1.5 cm, articulate apically. Perianth white, 5--7 × 5--7 mm; lobes ovate-deltoid, ca. 2 × 2 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse. Stamens ca. 4 mm; filaments widened gradually toward base; anthers suboblong. Style columnar, 2.5--3 mm. Berry red at maturity, globose, 6--12 mm in diam. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul--Sep. 2 n = 38*.

Plants 1–3 dm. Leaves 15–50 × 2.5–13 cm; petiole 4–30 cm; blade 9–26 cm, strongly or weakly veined. Inflorescence bracts scarious, 4–20 mm. Flowers: tepals 6, white, midribs prominent, white or green, lobes 1–3 mm, with microscopic glands; pedicel 7–11 mm. Berries 1–9, 1–5-seeded, 6–12 mm. Seeds 3–4 mm. 2n = 38.

Convallaria keiskei Miquel; C. keiskei var. trifolia Y. C. Chu et al.; C. majalis var. manshurica Komarov.

Lily-of-the-Valley has escaped from cultivation primarily in NE Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is uncommon in natural areas. This species was introduced to the United States from Europe as a horticultural plant; it is often grown in gardens because of the attractive foliage and flowers. According to some authorities, there is a native form of Lily-of-the-Valley in the region of the Appalachian mountains, although it cultivated less often than the European form. In Illinois, habitats include an upland area of a tamarack bog, rich deciduous woodlands, cemetery prairies, oak savannas near cemetery prairies, and former homestead sites. At some of these habitats, Lily-of-the-Valley was deliberately introduced and has persisted for several decades, notwithstanding long neglect.

Moist places in forests, shady hillsides along ravines; 800--2500 m.

According to Müller (1873/1883), honeybees collect pollen from the flowers; he was uncertain if nectar was produced by the flowers. The leaves are eaten by an accidentally introduced insect, Lilioceris lilii (Lily Leaf Beetle). This beetle has been found along the NE coast of the United States and may expand its range westward. Because the berries are not often produced in North America, it is not known which birds will eat them; the berries have been eaten by the Eastern Chipmunk, however. All parts of this plant contain cardiac glycosides that are toxic; therefore, its foliage is left alone by mammalian herbivores. Overall, the ecological value of Lily-of-the-Valley to wildlife appears to be low. Photographic Location

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Kabatiella coelomycetous anamorph of Aureobasidium microstictum parasitises live Convallaria majalis

Foodplant / pathogen
colony of Botrytis dematiaceous anamorph of Botrytis paeoniae infects and damages wilted leaf (mature) of Convallaria majalis
Remarks: season: summer

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Diaporthe pardalota is saprobic on dead stem of Convallaria majalis
Remarks: season: 1-8

Foodplant / spot causer
Gloeosporium convallariae causes spots on live leaf of Convallaria majalis
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / feeds on
epiphyllous pycnidium of Asteroma coelomycetous anamorph of Mycosphaerella brunneola feeds on leaf of Convallaria majalis

Foodplant / spot causer
gregarious or scattered, epiphyllous pycnidium of Phyllosticta coelomycetous anamorph of Phyllosticta cruenta causes spots on live leaf of Convallaria majalis

Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Puccinia sessilis parasitises live leaf of Convallaria majalis
Other: unusual host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria convallariae-majalis causes spots on live leaf of Convallaria majalis
Other: major host/prey

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 20
Specimens with Barcodes: 23
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The preference is dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil. Once it becomes established, this plant is long-lived and spreads slowly via its rhizomes.