Lily of the valley facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Lily-of-the-valley (scientific name: Convallaria majalis) is a beautiful woodland flowering plant. It is famous for its sweet-smelling, bell-shaped white flowers. These flowers hang in sprays during springtime. This plant naturally grows in Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Asia.

Some people also call it May bells, Our Lady's tears, or Mary's tears. In French, it's called muguet. This name sometimes appears in perfumes that smell like the flower. Long ago in England, it was known as glovewort. This was because it was used to make a soothing cream for sore hands.

It's very important to know that the lily-of-the-valley is highly poisonous if eaten. All parts of the plant contain natural chemicals that can be harmful to humans and animals. So, it's best to admire this plant from a distance and never taste it.

Quick facts for kids Lily-of-the-valley

Inflorescence (image taken in Keila, Estonia)

Fruit (image taken in Poland)
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Convallarioideae
Genus:	Convallaria
Species:	C. majalis
Binomial name
*Convallaria majalis* L.
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Discovering the Lily-of-the-Valley
How Scientists Classify This Plant
Where the Lily-of-the-Valley Grows
Its Home and Neighbors
Special Garden Types
Important Safety Information
How People Use Lily-of-the-Valley
Lily-of-the-Valley in Culture
- Stories and Meanings
- In Art and Music
Images for kids
See also

Discovering the Lily-of-the-Valley

The leaves and flowers of the lily-of-the-valley

The lily-of-the-valley is a herbaceous perennial plant. This means it has soft stems, not woody ones, and it lives for many years. It often grows in large groups by spreading its underground stems, called rhizomes. New shoots grow from these rhizomes in the summer. These shoots then become new leafy plants in the spring.

The stems of the plant can grow to be about 15 to 35 centimeters (6 to 14 inches) tall. Each stem usually has two or three leaves. These leaves are about 5 to 20 centimeters (2 to 8 inches) long and 3 to 7 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) wide. The flowering stems have a row of six to twelve hanging flowers. These flowers are on the upper part of the stem.

The flowers have six white petals, called tepals. They are joined at the bottom to form a bell shape. Their tips curve back slightly. These flowers are about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide and smell very sweet. They usually bloom in late spring, from May to June. However, in some warmer places, they can flower as early as March. There is a special kind, Convallaria majalis var. "Rosea", which has pretty pink petals.

After the flowers, the plant produces small, round, orange-red berries. These berries are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) across. They are also poisonous. Each berry contains several whitish to brownish seeds. These berries stay on the plant for about 47 days.

How Scientists Classify This Plant

Lily-of-the-valley growing in its natural home in central Germany

Scientists group plants into families to understand them better. The lily-of-the-valley belongs to the family called Asparagaceae. This family also includes asparagus! Before, it was sometimes placed in its own family or even in the lily family.

In the past, people thought there were three main types, or varieties, of Convallaria majalis. But now, scientists consider these to be separate species.

The type from Europe and western Asia is now called Convallaria majalis itself.
The type from China and Japan is now known as Convallaria keiskei.
The type from the southern Appalachian Mountains in North America is now called Convallaria pseudomajalis.

Where the Lily-of-the-Valley Grows

The lily-of-the-valley is native to Europe. It mostly grows away from the Mediterranean coast. It is not native to Ireland, but it has started growing there naturally.

Like many plants that live for many years, the lily-of-the-valley can reproduce in two ways. It can make new plants without seeds, using its underground stems. It can also reproduce by making seeds, which happens when pollen from one flower fertilizes another.

Its Home and Neighbors

The lily-of-the-valley likes places with some shade, not too much sun. It prefers warm summers. It can grow well in both acidic soils and alkaline soils. It especially likes soils that are silty or sandy, and those with a lot of humus (decayed plant material). This plant is found across Europe and Asia. It grows from sea level up to about 490 meters (1,600 feet) high in Great Britain. In central and southern Europe, it can be found up to 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) high.

Some insects enjoy the lily-of-the-valley. The young forms (larvae) of certain moth and butterfly species eat its leaves. The adults and larvae of a leaf beetle called Lilioceris merdigera can also eat the leaves. They can handle the plant's natural chemicals.

Small rodents sometimes collect the berries. They eat most of the seeds but only a little bit of the fruit. When they store the seeds and berries, some seeds are left behind. This helps the plant spread its seeds to new places.

Special Garden Types

The lily-of-the-valley is a popular plant for gardens. People love its scented flowers and how it covers the ground in shady spots. It has even won an award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. If conditions are right, it can form large groups in a garden.

Gardeners have developed many special types, or cultivars, of this plant. Some have double flowers, while others have pink flowers or leaves with different colors.

C. majalis 'Albostriata' has leaves with white stripes.
C. majalis 'Rosea' has pretty pink flowers.
'Berlin Giant' and 'Géant de Fortin' are types that grow larger than usual.
'Flore Pleno' has flowers with extra petals, making them look "double."

A special type with striped leaves, seen in early spring
The 'Flore Pleno' type with double flowers
The 'Rosea' type with pink flowers

People have also traditionally grown lily-of-the-valley in pots. They would make the plants flower early in winter. This provided fresh flowers for homes and as cut flowers during colder months.

Important Safety Information

A general look at the chemical structure of a cardiac glycoside

All parts of the lily-of-the-valley plant are potentially poisonous. This includes the attractive red berries. These berries might look tempting to children. If someone eats any part of the plant, it can cause stomach pain, feeling sick, throwing up, and even problems with their heartbeat.

It is very important to remember: Never eat any part of the lily-of-the-valley plant. If you think someone has eaten it, tell an adult right away.

How People Use Lily-of-the-Valley

Perfume

The lovely scent of lily-of-the-valley is very popular in perfumes. In 1956, the French company Dior created a famous perfume called Diorissimo. It was designed to smell like this flower, which was Christian Dior's favorite. Since no natural perfume oil can be taken directly from the lily-of-the-valley, its scent must be created by scientists in a lab.

Other perfumes that smell like or are inspired by this flower include Muguet de Bois (from 1936) and Penhaligon's Lily of the Valley (from 1976).

Weddings and Celebrations

Lily-of-the-valley is a popular choice for weddings. It can be quite expensive if it's not in season. It was part of the bridal bouquet for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Princess Grace of Monaco also chose it for her wedding bouquet.

In France, there's a tradition on May 1st, also known as Labour Day. On this day, people sell lily-of-the-valley as a symbol of spring. This day is sometimes called La Fête du Muguet, or Lily of the Valley Day.

In Helston, a town in Cornwall, UK, people wear lily-of-the-valley on Flora Day (May 8th). This represents the arrival of summer. There's even a song called "Lily of the Valley" sung in pubs there.

Old Beliefs About Medicine

For hundreds of years, people used lily-of-the-valley in folk medicine. They believed it could help with things like gout, heart problems, and memory. For example, in a book from 1886, "Lilly of the valley water" was mentioned as being "good against the Gout."

However, today, there is no scientific proof that lily-of-the-valley can effectively treat any human diseases. Because it is poisonous, it should never be used as medicine without expert medical advice.

Lily-of-the-Valley in Culture

A cup and saucer decorated with a lily-of-the-valley design

The lily-of-the-valley was the national flower of Yugoslavia. It also became the national flower of Finland in 1967.

In the "language of flowers", which gives meanings to different blooms, the lily-of-the-valley means "the return of happiness."

Stories and Meanings

The name "lily of the valley" comes from a phrase in an ancient book, the Bible. It's mentioned in the "Song of Songs" as "lily of the valleys." European plant experts started using this name for this specific plant around the 15th or 16th century. The scientific name convallaria also comes from a similar Latin phrase, lilium convallium.

In Art and Music

This flower appears in many forms of art, books, and music.

The poet Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote a poem about the lily-of-the-valley.
The famous composer Tchaikovsky wrote a piece called "Lilies of the Valley" in 1878.
Artist Marc Chagall painted Lillies-of-the-Valley in 1916.
The lily-of-the-valley was said to be Queen Elizabeth II's favorite flower. A poem called "Floral Tribute" was written in her memory, inspired by this flower.
The English rock band Queen also released a song called "Lily of the Valley" in 1974.