Knowra Lily of the valley Lily of the valley Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a woodland perennial with fragrant, bell-shaped flowers and toxic red berries. Its leaves and other parts also contain compounds that can affect the heart.
Asparagaceae : A family of flowering plants that includes asparagus, hyacinths, and lily of the valley. Modern classification places Convallaria in this family, despite its traditional association with lilies.
Perennial plant : A plant that lives for more than two years, often producing new growth across multiple seasons. Lily of the valley returns from underground structures year after year.
Shade garden : A garden designed for plants that grow with limited direct sunlight. Lily of the valley is commonly grown as a ground cover in shaded, moist sites.
Language of flowers : A symbolic system that assigns meanings to flowers and floral arrangements. Lily of the valley is commonly associated with happiness, purity, and the return of spring.
Snowdrop : A spring-flowering bulbous plant in the genus Galanthus, with drooping white flowers. Its white hanging flowers can resemble lily of the valley, but it belongs to a different family.
Convallaria : A small genus of rhizomatous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae. Lily of the valley is the best-known species in this genus.
Plant rhizome : A modified stem that grows horizontally underground and can produce roots and shoots. The rhizome stores resources and sends up the plant’s leaves and flowering stems.
Cut flower : A flower harvested with its stem for display in a vase or floral arrangement. Its fragrant white flowers have long been used in bouquets and ceremonial arrangements.
French May Day : A French springtime custom of giving sprigs of lily of the valley on May 1. The flower’s association with luck and spring is especially prominent in this tradition.
Solomon's seal : A group of woodland plants in the genus Polygonatum, with arching stems and hanging flowers. Its habitat and pendant flowers invite comparison, though its flowers are typically tubular.
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