Lily of the Valley Bare Roots – 10 Pips – Fragrant White Shade Perennial

Overview

Introduce classic beauty and enchanting fragrance to your garden with our lily of the valley bare roots. This offering includes 10 robust pips of Convallaria Majalis, ready to establish and transform your outdoor space into a serene haven. Known for its delicate white, bell-shaped flowers and sweet, distinctive scent, Lily of the Valley is a beloved perennial that signals the arrival of spring. It thrives in shaded environments, making it an ideal choice for those challenging garden spots where other plants struggle. These bare roots are an easy and effective way to cultivate a charming ground cover that returns year after year, providing both visual appeal and an unforgettable aroma. Embrace the tradition and purity associated with this beautiful plant, often recognized as the may birth flower, making it a thoughtful gift or a cherished addition to your own landscape.

Key Benefits

Cultivating lily of the valley bare roots in your garden offers a multitude of advantages, from its aesthetic charm to its ease of care. This resilient perennial is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking both beauty and functionality in their outdoor spaces.

• Enchanting Fragrance: Enjoy the sweet, iconic scent that permeates the air each spring, creating a delightful atmosphere in your garden or near windows. This distinctive perfume is one of the primary reasons for its enduring popularity.
• Shade Loving Performer: Perfect for those difficult, shaded areas where many flowering plants fail to thrive. Lily of the Valley flourishes under trees, along north-facing walls, or in other low-light conditions, brightening up dim corners.
• Low Maintenance Elegance: Once established, these plants require minimal attention, making them an ideal choice for busy gardeners or those new to planting. They are self-sufficient and remarkably resilient.
• Spreading Ground Cover: Over time, the convallaria majalis plant will spread to form a lush, mat-forming ground cover, suppressing weeds and creating a uniform, attractive carpet of foliage and flowers.
• Perennial Reliability: These plants return reliably each year, providing a consistent display of beauty without the need for annual replanting, offering long-term value and enjoyment.
• Symbolic Significance: As the may birth flower, it symbolizes purity, happiness, and humility, adding a layer of meaningful beauty to your garden. It’s a wonderful plant for reflective spaces.
• Deer Resistant: Its natural toxicity means deer and other common garden pests tend to avoid it, protecting your investment and ensuring a healthy stand of plants.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing lily of the valley bare roots is a rewarding experience, especially with a few key care considerations. These plants are remarkably hardy and forgiving, making them suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. The goal is to mimic their natural woodland habitat to ensure vigorous growth and abundant blooms.

For optimal growth, plant your lily of the valley bare roots in a location that receives partial to full shade. While they can tolerate some morning sun, direct afternoon sun can scorch their delicate leaves. They thrive in consistently moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Amending your soil with compost or well-rotted leaf mold before planting will provide the ideal environment. Ensure good drainage, as waterlogged conditions can lead to root rot. When planting the pips, ensure the pointed ‘eye’ or bud is just at or slightly below the soil surface, with the roots spread out beneath. Space them about 4-6 inches apart for a dense ground cover.

Water regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Once established, Lily of the Valley is relatively drought-tolerant but will perform best with consistent moisture. Fertilization is generally not heavily required; an annual application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring can boost growth. These plants are known to spread, so if you wish to contain their growth, consider planting them with a root barrier or in an area where their spread can be easily managed. They are generally hardy in USDA zones 2-7. Remember, while beautiful, all parts of the convallaria majalis plant are toxic if ingested, so plant in areas away from pets or young children who might be tempted to taste them.

Size & Details

This offering includes a bundle of 10 lily of the valley bare roots, also known as pips, which are the dormant rhizomes ready for planting. Each pip is approximately 1-2 inches long, featuring a distinct ‘eye’ from which new growth will emerge. When mature, these plants typically reach a height of 6-12 inches, forming a dense, mat-like ground cover that can spread several feet wide over time. They have a moderately fast growth rate, quickly filling in shaded areas. These bare roots are shipped dormant and are best planted in the fall or early spring to allow them to establish before the growing season. You can expect to see their characteristic bell-shaped white flowers and hear their sweet fragrance by mid-spring to early summer, typically in May, hence its recognition as the may birth flower. This fragrant shade plant will provide years of enjoyment with minimal effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How tall does Lily of the Valley grow and how wide does it spread? A: Lily of the Valley plants typically reach a height of 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) and can spread indefinitely to form a dense ground cover over time, making them an excellent shade garden perennial.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in and how should I plant them? A: Your lily of the valley bare roots will arrive dormant and ready for planting. Plant them with the pointed ‘eye’ just at or slightly below the soil surface, spacing them 4-6 inches apart in moist, well-drained soil in a shady location.
• Q: Is Lily of the Valley an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Lily of the Valley is primarily an outdoor plant, best suited for gardens, woodlands, and shaded landscapes. While it can be forced indoors for temporary display, it thrives and spreads best in an outdoor environment.
• Q: How much sunlight does Lily of the Valley need to thrive? A: This fragrant shade plant prefers partial to full shade. It can tolerate some morning sun but should be protected from harsh afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for, especially for beginners? A: Yes, Lily of the Valley is considered a very easy-to-grow and low-maintenance plant once established. It’s an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners looking for a resilient perennial.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Lily of the Valley bare roots? A: The best time to plant these bare roots is in the fall, allowing them to establish roots before winter, or in early spring for blooms later in the season.
• Q: How long until I see blooms from these bare roots? A: If planted in the fall, you can often expect blooms the following spring. If planted in early spring, they may bloom in their first year or the year after, depending on establishment.
• Q: What type of soil is best for the Convallaria Majalis plant? A: The convallaria majalis plant prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Amending heavy soils with compost will improve drainage and fertility.
• Q: Will Lily of the Valley survive winter in my climate? A: Lily of the Valley is very cold-hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 2-7, easily surviving cold winters and returning each spring.
• Q: Is Lily of the Valley toxic? A: Yes, all parts of the lily of the valley bare roots and mature plant are toxic if ingested. It should be planted with care if you have pets or small children.