Convallaria majalis (Lily of the valley ) is a fragrant perennial herbaceous plant. The only species of the genus[1] Convallaria from the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family.
Convallaria is native to eastern North America and Eurasia and is grown in shady gardens in numerous temperate regions. Convallaria majalis is a perennial rhizome What is rhizome? An underground stem, with nodes and short to elongate internodes. herb that typically forms a ground cover that extends indefinitely up to 8-12 inches high.
The foliage and flowers make it an attractive and popular shade garden wildflower. Each plant has two to three oval to an elliptical shape, lanceolate green leaves with parallel veins (5 to 10 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide).
In the spring, an upright to slightly domed flower stalk rises from the center of each group of leaves with a one-sided cluster (4 to 9 inches long) of white , bell-shaped, gently scented flowers (1/3 inches long crown) that bloom in early spring to mid-spring. Each raceme usually contains 5 to 10 flowers.
Cite This Page Key References
[1] – “Convallaria majalis (European lily-of-the-valley): Go Botany” . Accessed November 27, 2021. Link .