Convallaria majalis
Lily of the valley
How do you recognise lily of the valley?
Two large, long-stalked leaves with entire margins rise from the plant, each blade oval and 10–20 cm long. A flower stalk 15–25 cm tall grows from the sheath the leaves form. The white, plump bell-shaped flowers hang in a nodding raceme and are strongly scented.
What is it confused with?
May lily has heart-shaped leaf bases and small star-shaped flowers rather than bells. Angular Solomon's seal carries its leaves along an arching stem, while lily of the valley sends its leaves up from the ground.
Where does lily of the valley grow, and when does it flower?
Grows in dry and mesic heath forest, forest edges, stony slopes, and groves. Flowers in May and June, and small orange-red berries follow.
Can you collect it for a herbarium?
Lily of the valley is not protected in Finland, but it grows in wide patches, so take a single shoot only. Poisonous. Look, do not touch.
Did you know?
The plant spreads through an underground rootstock, so a wide patch can be a single individual. The scientific name Convallaria means growing in a valley.
Where does lily of the valley grow in Finland?
The map shows where the species has been recorded. Darker squares mean more observations.
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Observations: GBIF · Map: CARTO, OpenStreetMap
Sources: fi.wikipedia.org
Identify plants with your phone
Linnea identifies a plant from a photo and tells you its name and its story. Every find takes its own numbered place in your herbarium, with the day and the town where you found it.
