How long do lilies of the valley bloom? May lily of the valley - description of where it grows

Always young and always restless, Spring constantly traveled around the world and never stayed anywhere for long. One day, while traveling, she met a young man named Lily of the Valley - and she liked him so much that she gave him a great love for life.

But she didn’t stay with him long - she had to leave, and she left. Legends about Lily of the Valley say that he wept so bitterly for his beloved who had left him that his tears turned into graceful flowers like white bells. small size, and the blood of the heart gave the berries a red tint. Thus, the first lily of the valley appeared on earth.

In legends, books, articles dedicated to this amazing plant, May lily of the valley is always associated with the most sublime feelings - with purity, fidelity, love and tenderness.

Tales about the first lily of the valley can be found in legends different nations world, since this plant grows in many places on our planet - in Europe, North America, in the Caucasus, Asia Minor, China. Lily of the valley flowers prefer to live in aspen, pine, oak, birch groves and mixed forests (shady and damp places with loose soil are preferred).

The official name of this plant is Lilium Convalium (“Lily of the Valleys”), while the origin of the Russian name is not entirely clear:

• according to one version, it was called that because of its smooth leaves (from the word “smooth”);
• on the other hand, from the word “incense” (lilies of the valley smell simply amazing in spring);
• according to the third - from the Polish word meaning “doe’s ear.”

Lily of the valley, the first flowers in May, belongs to the genus of monocotyledonous herbaceous flowering plants of the Asparagus family, to which the only species of lily of the valley belongs.

Sometimes two more species are distinguished in this genus - outwardly they are extremely similar to each other and differ only in territorial characteristics. For example, if the May lily of the valley mainly grows in Europe and the Caucasus, then Kezke convalia can only be seen in the northern and eastern Asia, and mountain lilies of the valley grow only in North America.

What does convalia look like?

Lilies of the valley are the first flowers in May that delight fans of the plant world with their appearance. Lilies of the valley smell like spring, which has already decisively come into its own and has begun to awaken flowering plants that have fallen into a deep sleep from hibernation.

The plants are not tall: their stem length is about 20 cm. Lilies of the valley grow as the first flowers in May, in colonies, having one rhizome for all. The rhizome of convalia is thin, has many roots (shoots), each of which creates from 5 to 6 leaves belonging to one flower.

Because the lily of the valley plant does not have a persistent woody stem and the leaves and soft stems die off at the end of the growing season, these flowers are considered herbaceous. The leaves of convalia are basal, wide, long, have a pointed long plate, and therefore resemble the ears of a doe (hence its name from the Polish word “lily of the valley”). A flowering stem sprouts from the leaves (this happens, however, not every year).

Lily of the valley flower white(pale pink tint is very rare). Lily of the valley flowers are located only on one side of the flowering stem and represent from 5 to 20 pleasantly smelling small bells (perfumers claim that the smell of lily of the valley gives a person a sense of self-confidence, makes one think creatively, develops perseverance and helps maintain sobriety).

Lilies of the valley smell so pleasant in spring that this flower is popular not only among people, but also among insects, which, in turn, favors the collection good harvest from fruit trees.

When convalia flowers fade, orange lily of the valley berries form on the stalk, turning red in autumn. Orange lily of the valley berries are spherical fruits from 6 to 8 cm in diameter, which contain one or two spherical seeds. The berries stay on the plant for quite a long time, and therefore in the cold season they are consumed by birds and chipmunks. People should be careful, because the May lily of the valley is for human body

extremely poisonous.

Convalia toxicity Despite the fact that the first lily of the valley in May outwardly seems to be an extremely fragile and delicate creature, it can quite stand up for itself: lilies of the valley are the first flowers in May - completely.

poisonous plants People can also be poisoned by convalescence. Considering that the taste of the May lily of the valley is extremely bitter, it is unlikely that anyone would have the desire to eat it in large quantities

In case of mild poisoning, a person may experience vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and stomach cramps. If the case is more serious, the patient’s heart begins to stop, the pulse becomes less and less frequent, and the nervous system(up to seizures, vision problems and loss of consciousness). This condition is so dangerous that the heart may not withstand it and stop forever.

If there is a suspicion of poisoning with a medicine made on the basis of convallatoxin, it is necessary to immediately perform a gastric lavage.

This plant is not poisonous to everyone; convalia berries in winter often save birds from starvation. Also, moose and deer eat the first lily of the valley in May with pleasure without any harm to their health. The fox also loves forest lilies of the valley; she often climbs into their thickets, smells the flowers and often gets “tipsy” at the same time.

Convalii and man

Despite the fact that lilies of the valley are the first flowers in May that can be seen in many places northern hemisphere, due to irrational human activities, it is listed in the Red Book.

The number of these plants is decreasing for several reasons: firstly, lovers of easy money collect them in bouquets and sell them in bazaars and city streets, and secondly, due to the substances they contain, lilies of the valley, although poisonous, are extremely useful when used skillfully for the human body (all types).

Many people collect these plants so illiterately and ineptly that, having collected flowers from only one small plot clearings, simply destroy an entire colony (due to which the plant was listed in the Red Book). Therefore, those who like to collect a bouquet of lilies of the valley must always take into account that a clearing completely covered with lily of the valley flowers is actually a plant that has one common rhizome.

This means that if you injure the root of one plant or incorrectly pick at least one lily of the valley flower, much less two or three, an entire clearing of forest flowers will die.

Another reason for the mass death of these plants is the active development of areas located near large cities: convalias often grow on lawns, which local authorities willingly sell for cottage or other development (and digging pits and other construction works have never had a beneficial effect on the development of plant populations).

The fact that these plants are listed in the Red Book has little effect on the current situation, since violators are not very actively caught, and the amount of the fine is not even comparable with the opportunity to make a profit.

An old belief says: a small bouquet of lilies of the valley, placed at the head of the bed, grants happy life spouses. Even a novice gardener can grow delicate lilies of the valley with a divine aroma.

Lilies of the valley are poisonous plants

All parts of the plant contain strong poisons that affect the cardiovascular and digestive system. Even mild poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, headache and cardiac dysfunction. Moderate poisoning can be fatal.

An overdose of convallotoxin and other cardiac glycosides that lily of the valley contains causes cardiac arrest. Wear gloves when working with this plant. Be sure to explain to children that they should not play with lilies of the valley, and that they should wash their hands after collecting the bouquet. The red berries of the plant are very dangerous and may seem attractive to children.

The famous quote from Paracelsus: “Everything is poison and everything is medicine, it’s just a matter of dose”, fits the lily of the valley. Made from a plant medications for the treatment of heart diseases.

Uncontrolled use of tinctures, decoctions, drops and others medicines from lilies of the valley is very dangerous! Be sure to consult your doctor before preparing or taking preparations from this plant.

All types of lilies of the valley are herbaceous perennials with a strong root system that grows underground and gives rise to new flowers. Because of this property, lilies of the valley are considered aggressive plants that crowd out other species. When forming a flower bed, take care of limiters that will prevent lilies of the valley from growing throughout the entire area.

May lily of the valley (Convalaria majalis)

Grows in Europe, Russia, China, North America. Found in coniferous and mixed forests, floodplains, and mountain slopes. Like other species, it is listed in the Red Book. The collection of this plant is punishable by a fine.

May lily of the valley has two or three leaves in the shape of an oblong ellipse, a stem no more than 30 cm long and brush-shaped inflorescences of 5-20 small flowers. Garden shape May lily of the valley is the Berlin lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis f. Berolinensis), which has larger flowers and is better suited for forcing. Varieties differ in the shape and shades of flowers and leaves, as well as the intensity of the aroma. The most common varieties for planting in the garden:

Albostriata- Very decorative variety, which are valued not only for their delicate white flowers, but also for their unusual leaf color - green sheet plate covered with cream-colored stripes. Even after the end of flowering, Albostriata lilies of the valley will delight the eye.

Aurea- a variety of lilies of the valley with yellow-green leaves.

Flore Pleno– lily of the valley with large double white flowers.

Grandiflora– a large-flowered variety, the flowers have a pleasant intense aroma.

Rosea- variety with flowers Pink colour, on one peduncle up to 14 pieces.

Latifolia- distinguished by large double white flowers.

Victor Ivanovich- the result of the work of Russian breeders, differs in height - the plant grows up to 50 cm in length. The flowers are large, white, up to 19 pieces per peduncle.

Keiske Lily of the Valley (Convallaria keiskei)

Common in forests Eastern Siberia, Far East, on Kuril Islands, in North and Central Asia.

The flowers are white, bell-shaped, larger (up to 1 cm in diameter) than those of the May lily of the valley. It blooms later - in mid-May. Depending on weather conditions, the beginning of flowering may shift to the end of June.

Mountain lily of the valley (Convallaria montana)

Found in the mountains of the eastern United States. The plant is up to 35 cm long, the leaves are 5 cm wide, the flowers are white, bell-shaped, wider than those of the May species. Some scientists consider the mountain lily of the valley to be a subspecies of the May lily of the valley.

Transcaucasian lily of the valley (Convallaria transcaucasica)

Herbaceous perennial plant, up to 30 cm in length. The flowers are white, with petals bent upward, in the shape of a wide bell. It blooms from April to June, depending on the climate. Distributed in the forests of the North Caucasus, Crimea, in the central and western parts of Transcaucasia.

Choosing a landing site

Lily of the valley - unpretentious plant. It grows best in the partial shade of trees and shrubs. Too much darkness will result in no flowering. Lily of the valley prefers moist soils, but there should be no stagnation. The soil for lilies of the valley should be light and permeable, but at the same time retain moisture. Favorable soil acidity - 5-6 Ph. The soil must be fertilized with organic matter.

Dig a border or other fence to a depth of 40 cm around the perimeter of the lily of the valley bed. This measure will prevent the spread of lilies of the valley beyond the boundaries of the area intended for them.

Soil preparation

Preparatory activities carried out in advance, for example, in the spring, if planting is planned for the fall.

If the soil in the area is acidic, then dig it up with a shovel and add lime - 200 g per 1 sq. m. m.

Clay soil lighten with sand.

Clay is added to sandy, too light soil.

Enrich the soil as follows: add humus, compost or manure at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 sq. m.; or superphosphate - 100 g per 1 sq. m., potassium sulfate - 40 g per 1 sq. m. Humus prepared from forest litter is well suited.

It is recommended to sow lupines or peas on the plot 2 months before planting lilies of the valley. The fact is that legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen. Before planting lilies of the valley, the green legumes are removed and the roots are left in the ground.

Planting lilies of the valley in autumn

Sprouts with a leaf bud and a flower bud, located on a rhizome 7-8 cm long, are recommended for planting. You can determine whether a plant has a flower bud by the diameter of the sprout, as well as by the shape of the crown. Sprouts with a flower bud are larger - over 0.6 cm in diameter. It is believed that the sharp crown of the sprout bears only leaves, while the round one has a peduncle in the bud.

Experienced gardeners advise planting lilies of the valley in the fall. In this case, the plants take root faster, get sick less, and if they have a flower bud, they bloom in the spring. Planting is carried out at the end of August - beginning of September, observing the following technology:

1. Make grooves in the prepared bed. There should be a distance of 25 cm between the grooves, and 10 cm between plants in a row. The depth of the groove depends on the length of the rhizome of the planting material.
2. Take a sprout of lily of the valley and place it in the groove, but the rhizome should not bend;
3. Bury the sprout to a depth of no more than 2 cm;
4. Water the garden bed well.

Caring for lilies of the valley

Lilies of the valley are unpretentious and require minimal care.

Young plants need to be weeded. Particularly dangerous for lilies of the valley that have not yet become strong is the proximity to plants that have a powerful root system. For example, coltsfoot, wheatgrass, whine.

In dry summers, lilies of the valley need to be watered; the rest of the time, no watering is required. Lilies of the valley are very resistant to drought; they will not die without watering, but next year will produce smaller flowers.

Fertilizing also affects flowering. Organic fertilizers (manure or compost) diluted with water can be used in the first spring after planting. To obtain fertilizer, take fresh manure, fill it with water in a ratio of 1:5 and leave to ferment for 2 weeks. The resulting concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 and watered at the roots of the flowers.

Experienced gardeners advise mulching lilies of the valley with rotted compost. This layer of mulch enriches the soil and maintains its moisture.

Mineral fertilizers are applied a year after planting. Superphosphate and potassium salt work well. You can prepare an extract from superphosphate. To do this, pour 100 g of powder into 1 liter of boiling water and then boil for half an hour. The resulting concentrate is filtered and diluted with water at the rate of 100 ml per bucket of water per 1 square meter. m.

Lilies of the valley after flowering

After flowering, lilies of the valley decorate the flowerbed with their leaves. They look great as ground cover plants and are combined in joint plantings with those flowers whose roots are shallow. Such flowers include, for example, jasmine and aquilegia. Ferns, astilbes, and hosts look very decorative next to lilies of the valley. These plants, like lily of the valley, love shade.

By autumn, fruits appear on lilies of the valley - red-orange berries. There are seeds inside the berries. As stated earlier, the fruits and seeds are just as poisonous as other parts of the plant.

There is no need to cover these flowers for the winter - lilies of the valley are amazingly frost-resistant.

Reproduction of lilies of the valley

Under suitable conditions, lilies of the valley grow beautifully without human intervention. If you want to plant lilies of the valley in a new flowerbed, or organize their arrangement in the old one, then you can do this in two ways:

1. By dividing the rhizome. In August, rhizomes are dug up and the strongest sprouts are selected, preferably with a flower bud. For planting you need a piece of roots 8-10 cm long.
2. Seeds. This method It is rarely used because lily of the valley seeds have difficulty germinating. In addition, lilies of the valley grown from seeds bloom only in the 7th year. Seeds are sown before winter immediately permanent place. Planting depth is about 2 cm. After germination, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving a distance of 15 cm between plants.

Forcing lilies of the valley for the New Year and Christmas

Only used for distillation garden varieties lilies of the valley Large-flowered forms are best suited for this purpose.

1. In mid-September, dig up rhizomes and select sprouts with a flower bud. Soak the dug up rhizomes in water for 2 hours, then wrap them in sphagnum moss or a damp cloth and place them in plastic bag.
2. Store the bag of lily of the valley rhizomes in the refrigerator.
3. At the beginning of December, remove the rhizomes from the refrigerator and leave them for a day at room temperature.
4. Soak for 10 hours in warm (30 degrees) water.
5. Plant the sprouts in the ground, cover with glass or film and place in a warm place.
6. After pipping the sprouts, the glass or film is removed.
7. When buds appear, the plant is taken to a cool place, thereby prolonging the flowering period.

After forcing, the lily of the valley rhizomes completely exhaust their supply of nutrients. Such a plant is planted in open ground not subject, since it will not be able to form a new root system.

Diseases and pests of lilies of the valley

Planting and caring for lilies of the valley does not require much effort. Lilies of the valley are excellent plants for partial shade. The spring scent of these flowers is soothing, and the green foliage is pleasing to the eye. Plant these beautiful flowers in the fall, and in the spring, collect a delicate bouquet.

When lilies of the valley bloom in the forest, the most mysterious time begins: as if a good wizard scatters handfuls of pearls across the grass. They are visible here and there, again and again, beckoning further into the mysterious thicket.

In natural conditions, graceful and so delicate lily of the valley grows in beech, hornbeam and oak groves, deciduous forests. It forms large massifs in warm areas European countries. And in the middle zone of our country, it feels great in the thickets of rowan and hazel, in light birch groves and pine forests. Lily of the valley has conquered the surface layer of soil even in light spruce forests, covering the spruce roots with its delicate foliage.

It is probably difficult to find a person indifferent to such beauty. This southern plant does not wake up very early, the lily of the valley waits until the soil warms up. But when this happens, a “picket fence” of green, sharp shoots grows, from which two lance-shaped leaves appear. And then, somehow imperceptibly, from the very middle of them grows a long stem with buds that open and the peduncle bends slightly under the weight of the flowers, and the one-sided brush of white bells gracefully bends over the light green foliage.

The subtle, exquisite aroma beckons you to these snow-white flowers, and you follow them, collecting this forest wealth and forgetting about everything. But today, summer residents should not disturb the forest flora by collecting forest lilies of the valley, which these days are listed in the Red Book. After all, you can plant them on your site. These delicate bells feel great in captivity and often grow better than their forest counterparts.

Garden and forest: what are the differences?

Today at the dachas or garden plots Both forest and garden lilies of the valley are successfully grown. Cultivated plants are more powerful, and also in Lately varieties appeared with variegated leaves and double and even pink flowers. How do garden lilies of the valley differ from forest lilies? Perennial plants grow in the forest, which go through a rather long development stage before blooming in beautiful colors.

In the first year, the plant, hatched from the seed, is still completely hidden underground. In the second year he develops a long (up to 15 cm) green leaf, twisted into a tight little ball. With its upper tip it pierces the soil and comes out. After some time, he gradually straightens out, and another one appears. The moisture that gets into the leaves is sent to the roots, down, and by autumn they turn into a thick rhizome, which throws out numerous long shoots, like cords, and each of them forms new leaves.

From the corner itself bottom sheet in May, a flowering stem appears, turning into a raceme with small bell-shaped flowers that face one direction. The fragrant white flowers look down and have six bent openwork edges and stamens. At the end of June - beginning of July, the forest lily of the valley begins to bear fruit with bright red berries round shape, which remain on the plant for quite a long time. The berries contain small round seeds. It should be remembered that all brightly colored forest fruits are usually poisonous, and lily of the valley is no exception in this sense.

Kinds

Lily of the valley is a monotypic or oligotypic monocotyledonous plant. In other words, containing a small number of species. It has only one cotyledon in its embryo. The plant belongs to the Asparagus family. All its varieties are common in the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Europe. It can be found in North America and China, in temperate climates. Some botanists, considering the genus monotypic, distinguish only one species - May lily of the valley, and classify the rest as varieties. Below we will present them to you.

May lily of the valley

Distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, in temperate climates. The inflorescence is a sparse raceme containing from six to twenty flowers on long stalks, very fragrant. They can be white or pinkish, bell-shaped, with bent openwork edges.

Garden forms:

1. Grandiflora, which has very large flowers.
2. Proliferans - with white double flowers.
3. Variegata - with yellow stripes on green leaves.

Lily of the Valley Keiske

This species prefers floodplain meadows, forests in the taiga of the Far East, Korea, the Kuril Islands, Northern China and Japan. It differs from the May lily of the valley in its later flowering and large flowers. Used to decorate squares and parks and to grow at home.

Mountain lily of the valley

It grows naturally in Southeast America. It has larger leaves and wider flowers than the May lily of the valley.

Transcaucasian lily of the valley

From the name it is clear that this species can be found in the forests of the Caucasus. This is a Transcaucasian endemic. The flowers are wider and larger than those of the May lily of the valley.

Kupena - garden lily of the valley?

This plant is often called lily of the valley, but this is incorrect. There is practically nothing in common with the lily of the valley. Kupena is a perennial from the Liliaceae family. It is also called Solomon's Seal, probably due to the bizarre shape of the flowers. The stems of the kupena reach a meter in height, and with fertile soil and proper watering, they can exceed this value.

Leaves are oval, sessile. They are evenly distributed along the length of the entire stem. The flowers are funnel-shaped bells, with six teeth. They can be colored yellow, pink, purple, white. In the gardens middle zone White kupenas are predominantly found. This plant blooms in May - July. Kupena does not like too much sun. This is a plant for partial shade or shade. Perhaps this is the only thing that makes it similar to the lily of the valley. In the sun, the shoots of the kupena become weak and small, and the plant often dies.

Popular varieties of lily of the valley

Back in the 15th century, flower growers, inspired by the aroma of this plant, cultivated it and a huge number of garden lilies of the valley appeared. Among them, the most popular in our country are:

Albostriata

A variety that, even after blooming, pleases the eye thanks to its unusual leaves. The green matte plate is covered with white-cream stripes.

Aurea- lily of the valley with yellow leaves.

Aureovariegata

Garden lily of the valley, photos of which are often published in floriculture publications. It has green leaves with thin yellow stripes.

Flore Plena

A magnificent garden lily of the valley with very beautiful snow-white double inflorescences, which amount to ten to twelve large flowers. The height of the plant ranges from fifteen to twenty-five centimeters.

Grandiflora

Garden lily of the valley, which has large white flowers and large green leaves. It has a special refined aroma.

Green Tapestry

A plant with variegated green-yellow leaves.

Lily of the valley with unusual leaves framed by a beige border. The flowers are white.

Prolificans

An original low-growing garden lily of the valley (you can see the photo below) with numerous double white flowers. Attracts gardeners with long-lasting flowering and a wonderful aroma.

Victor Ivanovich

This variety is the latest development of Russian breeders. It is unique for its decorative effect: the tall garden lily of the valley reaches a height of half a meter, only the peduncle grows up to 40 cm. The inflorescence consists of 9-19 white, rather large, fragrant flowers. This large garden lily of the valley blooms for three weeks.

Planting lilies of the valley in the garden

When are garden lilies of the valley transplanted into the ground? To this question experienced gardeners, without hesitation, they will answer: “In the fall, from the first days of September to the beginning of November.” Garden lilies of the valley, planting and caring for which are not too complicated, require compliance certain rules agricultural technology.

Landing place

Where to plant garden lilies of the valley? The most suitable place for these plants there will be areas under trees or shrubs, creating shade for them and preventing the sun from drying out the soil in the area. At the same time, you need to know that lilies of the valley need light, otherwise the area will be beautifully planted with greenery, and you won’t get flowers. And one more tip - think about how you can protect these delicate plants from wind and drafts.

The soil

Garden lilies of the valley require slightly acidic or neutral, moist, organic-rich soil. To reduce acidity, humus or compost is added to the soil in advance at the rate of 10 kg per 1 m², lime - 300 g per 1 m². In addition, fertilizers are needed: superphosphate 100 g, potassium sulfate 40 g per 1 m², and for autumn planting the soil is prepared in the spring.

Autumn planting

Garden lilies of the valley are planted in open ground in rows in the fall. There should be a distance of at least ten centimeters between plants, and about twenty-five centimeters between rows. We will not describe how the seeds are sowed, since they, as a rule, have extremely low germination, and such lilies of the valley take too long to grow.

Qualitative planting material can be obtained by dividing the rhizomes. Some of the sprouts have a flower bud, so flowering may begin as early as next spring. The depth of the furrow should be sufficient for the roots of the seedlings to fit their full length vertically. The sprouts should be buried two centimeters into the soil. If the soil in your area is too dry, be sure to water the lilies of the valley after planting.

With the arrival of the first frost, cover the young plants with mulch, which will protect them from freezing if the winter is snowless. Without transplantation, lily of the valley grows in one place for no more than five years.

Is it possible to plant lilies of the valley in spring?

Yes, you can, but most likely they will get sick and certainly won’t bloom this year. If you carefully prepare the area in the fall and dig it up before planting in the spring, it will be easier for the seedlings to take root, especially if you cover them with plastic wrap at night, protecting them from return frosts.

How to care?

According to flower growers, planting garden lilies of the valley does not cause any special problems. And caring for them is quite simple. Lilies of the valley take excellent care of themselves, and sometimes they can even crowd out other flowers from the flowerbed. However, for a real gardener it is important that the flowers not only grow and bloom, it is necessary that they reach highest level decorativeness.

To achieve this, plants should be given attention. In hot weather, water lilies of the valley so often that the soil is constantly moist, and be sure to loosen and get rid of weeds after watering. Lily of the valley is responsive to feeding organic fertilizers- humus or rotted manure.

Flowers are susceptible to a disease such as gray vegetable rot, which, fortunately, can be treated quite quickly with the help of fungicides. Of the pests, the nematode can cause the greatest harm, from which there is no escape yet: infected plants are removed and must be burned.

Lilies of the valley after flowering

At the beginning of summer, lilies of the valley fade, but even after that they do not lose their decorative properties for some time and decorate the area with their dark green wide leaves. To prevent lilies of the valley from oppressing other plants and taking over other people’s territories, the flowerbed should be fenced with slate sheets dug into the ground to a depth of 40 cm.

With the onset of autumn, you can start replanting plants, if necessary, and if you are not planning to replant this year, then you can forget about lilies of the valley and completely calmly work on other flowers - frost-resistant lilies of the valley are not afraid of winter cold.

With the arrival of spring, when the snow has completely melted, remove the dry leaves left over from last year from the flowerbed and wait for the first flowers to appear.

Lilies of the valley are poisonous plants

That is why you should wear gloves when working with these plants, especially during transplantation. Explain to your children that they should not eat red berries. However, we do not recommend that many adults who read popular literature about the benefits of lily of the valley preparations use them. self-production. Even with ready-made pharmaceutical medicines that contain lily of the valley extract, one must be extremely careful and use them strictly in accordance with the instructions and as prescribed by the doctor.

Lily of the valley - perennial herbaceous plant. Today it is considered rare and therefore the lily of the valley flower is listed in the Red Book. It has many names, the most common of which are: May lily, convalia, forest bell.

There is information that since the plant was classified as a monocot, the superkingdom Liliaceae, the scientist Carl Linnaeus named it Lilium Convallium. Translated, it means “lily that grows in the valley.”

There is no consensus on the origin of the flower's name. Some scientists claim that it came from Polish, in which the name sounds like “lanuszka” due to the similarity of the pointed leaves with the ears of a doe. Others compare it to the combination of the words “incense” and “to breathe” due to the smell of flowers. Therefore, one of the types of lilies of the valley was called fragrant. Another group of scientists believes that the name comes from the fact that the petals of the plant are completely smooth, so it was called “smooth”. The May lily of the valley was developed in the 15th century. This flower has many varieties.

Description of the flower

Lily of the valley flowers are perennial. Their structure is complex. Flowers have a developed root system consisting of thin roots. Leaves with small scales located in the rhizome give rise to the development of new roots that grow from the axillary buds of these leaves.

3-5 lower scaly leaves usually grow from the vertical root. They are painted green, brown or purple. Several basal leaves grow from the top of this rhizome oval shape. The leaves of the flower are large, smooth, bright green, and sharp at the tops.

Between the leaves, which are located at the top of the plant, a single bud grows. A stem is formed from it, which reaches 15-30 cm in height. The rhizomes of the flower form leaves annually, and blooming lilies of the valley once every 2-3 years. They bloom for the first time at the age of 7. Having reached 12-13 years, the plant can no longer form a peduncle. Over time, the rhizome simply rots.

At the beginning of May, a brush forms in the middle of the stem, on which up to 20 flowers are attached, inclined to one side, and the stem is twisted in a spiral. The perianth is snow-white or light pink. In appearance it looks like a small bell with 6 short stamens on which anthers are located. These plants also self-pollinate. The classification of lilies of the valley is quite broad. Each type has its own characteristics.

Flowering period and smell

Lilies of the valley bloom for a very short time. This period takes a maximum of 20 days. We can talk about what lily of the valley looks like already at this time. The lower flowers bloom first, followed by the upper ones. Flowering time depends on natural conditions. Flowering begins in spring in mid-May and ends in mid-June. By this time the blooms are darkening. An ovary begins to form in the inflorescences, from which it then develops big berry dark red color. It is called a fruit. The size of this berry is 6-8 mm in diameter. Each of its three chambers contains 1 or 2 seeds. The ripening of the berries ends by mid-July. They are food for some birds and animals, although they can be very poisonous to humans.

The smell of flowers is fresh and tart. The subtle aroma of this plant is often used in the perfume industry to create the most exquisite fragrances.

Medicinal properties

The medicinal properties of lily of the valley as a medicinal plant have been known for a long time. In medicine, stems, flowers and leaves, which are collected during the flowering period, are used.

Medicines based on lily of the valley have a choleretic effect and are used to relieve inflammation in the biliary tract and liver. Lily of the valley drops are used in the treatment of poor circulation and some heart diseases. The most common diseases treated with lily of the valley preparations are:

• insomnia;
• hypertonic disease;
• headache;
• atherosclerosis;
• swelling of various origins;
• some types of allergies.

Despite all the benefits of lily of the valley, there are certain contraindications to its use, when products based on it should be taken very carefully. Such contraindications include: diseases of cardio-vascular system, problems in the gastrointestinal tract, chronic liver and kidney diseases. Also, such drugs should be used with caution by children and pregnant women. In any case, it is better to consult a doctor before taking any medications.

Area

Scientists believe that the Liliaceae genus is monotypic, that is, it consists of only a single species - the May lily of the valley. Some species differ from it. These features are caused directly by the place where the plants grow.

The following main types of lily of the valley are distinguished depending on the geography of their growth:

1. May lily of the valley. Especially common in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus. It is also found in Russia and Transcaucasia. In nature, it is found in all types of forests. The basal leaves are oblong, pointed at the ends. The stem reaches a maximum height of 30 cm. The inflorescence consists of small flowers, which look like bells. The number of flowers on the stem reaches 20 pieces, they are white or pinkish in color.
2. Keizke's lily of the valley or Far Eastern. It lives in forests where the soil is covered with moss, in abandoned clearings or meadows. The plant can be found in Transbaikalia, on Far East and Primorye, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, in Northern China and Japan. Considered a species of May lily of the valley. The lower leaves are scaly, brown or purple. The height of their stem is only 18 cm. The number of flowers in the inflorescence is no more than 10, since they reach 1 cm in diameter.
3. Mountain lily of the valley. Distributed throughout North America. This plant has an excellent developed root system and a low stem. Root leaves large: 20 cm long and 5 cm wide. The inflorescence of this species contains from 5 to 15 flowers. By the end of summer, large red berries ripen on the plant. These are three-chambered fruits with a diameter of up to 9 mm, inside of which there are seeds.

In their natural conditions, lilies of the valley grow in Europe, Asia, China, Japan, and North America. Deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests and meadows located near rivers will be most suitable for their existence. Due to poaching, lily of the valley is listed in the Red Book.

Main varieties

Beginning in the 15th century, gardeners made lily of the valley cultivated plant and many varieties of it were developed. The most common of them are:

1. Albostriata - thanks to the light stripes on the surface of the leaves, this species continues to please the eye even after flowering.
2. Aurea is a variety that differs yellow sheets.
3. Aureovariegata - the leaves of this variety are covered with longitudinal stripes of yellow color.
4. Flore Plena - its flowers are corolla-shaped and look like double ones. The inflorescences consist of 10-12 such flowers; the height of the plant can reach 15-25 cm.
5. Grandiflora is a lily of the valley with white pearlescent flowers and large leaves. It has a very pleasant smell.
6. Hofheim - the leaves of this variety have a beige edge.
7. Prolificans - blooms for a long time and smells great. It has a low stem.
8. Rosea - the color of the flowers of this variety is soft pink. Up to 10 flowers grow on one brush.

Growing in the garden

Although lilies of the valley are wild plants, they can be grown in your garden. In order for the plant to take root, it is important to plant it correctly.

Where is the best place to plant lilies of the valley?

Lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant that is not too dependent on natural and weather conditions, but is very afraid of drafts. It grows well in the shade, but if the darkness is too strong, the lily of the valley may not bloom.

Lilies of the valley love moist, neutral soil that is rich in... organic substances. The place for planting these flowers must be prepared in advance. The soil should be processed approximately 30 cm deep. in spring required area definitely needs to be dug up. In this case, you can add the following widely used fertilizers to the soil:

• 200 grams of lime;
• at least 10 kg of humus;
• 40 grams of potassium sulfate;
• 100 grams of superphosphate.

A prerequisite for planting is that after preparing the soil, you must constantly ensure that the soil is not overgrown with weeds over the summer.

What time to plant lilies of the valley

The best period for planting is the very beginning of autumn. Before planting cuttings, the soil must be loosened. Lily of the valley is planted at a distance of at least 10 cm, while the sprouts are sprinkled with soil a couple of centimeters. Immediately after planting, the entire area must be well watered. During the period of the first frost, it is advisable to cover the area with mulch, which will help preserve the seedlings.

If you plant plants in the spring, they will become sick and most likely will not bloom in the first year. The land for lilies of the valley needs to be prepared in the fall. The beds with seedlings should be mulched to protect them from various negative impacts external environment. They are covered with a thin layer of ordinary humus, and covered with film at night to protect them from frost.

Reproduction of lilies of the valley

In gardening, many varieties of lily of the valley have been developed that can be bred from seeds at home, for example: asparagus lily of the valley. The only drawback of artificial varieties is low frost resistance. Selected species can also be propagated from seeds, but the method of propagation from rhizomes is more often used. Seeds are sown in early autumn, then by spring they will already germinate.

Dividing the root system can be done both in autumn and spring. For such propagation of lilies of the valley, pieces of rhizomes with buds and roots are used. The diameter of the sprouts and the presence of buds depends on the age of the plant. If the root height exceeds 6 mm, then flowering can be expected already in the first year after planting.

Caring for lilies of the valley

Lilies of the valley are unpretentious flowers; they do not require special care. Unless in the summer you need to make sure that the soil under them does not dry out, otherwise the plants will not bloom well. After watering, you need to loosen the soil and remove weeds. Lilies of the valley have the ability to grow quickly. To contain this process, it is necessary to enclose the garden bed with a fence. Flowers can grow in one place for up to 10 years. If they grow together with other flowers, it can negatively affect them.

Fertilizers

The first introduction of organic matter into the soil under lilies of the valley can be made within 30 days after planting. In this period mineral fertilizers cannot be applied. For 2-3 years, lilies of the valley are fertilized with organic substances containing nitrogen. This is needed to improve the decorative effect of the flower. This procedure is best carried out in mid-spring. It is during this period that flower buds begin to form. As a result, the flowers turn out larger.

Sometimes lilies of the valley can be affected by certain diseases and pests. If they are affected by gray rot, you can get rid of it with the help of fungicides. It appears mainly when the flower bed is very waterlogged or clogged. If a lily of the valley is infected by a nematode, the flower must be destroyed immediately. It's best to burn it.

Modest, but charming and attractive lily of the valley flowers are probably familiar to everyone. Lily of the valley is a monotypic plant, which means that there is only one species in the genus “Lily of the valley” - May lily of the valley. The name itself answers the question: “When do lilies of the valley bloom?” This delicate, unpretentious flower will delight our eyes with its beauty in May. However, you can find blooming lilies of the valley at the end of April and in the first half of June. This is explained by the wide distribution range of the lily of the valley, as well as some climate changes occurring in recent decades.

Lily of the valley is a perennial herbaceous plant, in its natural environment its height ranges from 15 to 30 cm. Garden lilies of the valley can grow up to 40 - 50 cm. But when they bloom after transplantation is difficult to predict - perhaps in the first year, but more likely, this will happen in the second or third year after transplantation. In the garden, lily of the valley can “capture” quite actively. Its root system is branched, thin but strong roots grow shallow from the soil surface into different sides by several meters. Growth buds form on the rhizome - these will be new plants. A clearing of lilies of the valley may turn out to be a single living organism, and a flower carpet of lilies of the valley is a couple of greatly overgrown plants. Most often, from 3 to 5 lower leaves are hidden in the ground; they are scale-like and small. There are 2 or 3 basal leaves, they are oblong, the tip of the leaf is pointed.

The leaves are quite large: length - about 20 cm, and width - about 8 cm. From a large bud located between the leaves, a single stem grows, on the top of which a one-sided brush of 5-20 white or light pink flowers will form. They have the shape of a round bell with six teeth and are up to 10 mm in diameter. The vertical rhizome produces leaves annually, and the flowering stem - once every 2-3 years. But since lily of the valley has a strong vegetative propagation, then real lily of the valley thickets are formed, it is difficult to track the flowering of an individual specimen, and the erroneous impression may be created that lilies of the valley bloom every year. They bloom within 15-20 days. Lily of the valley fruits are orange-red shiny berries, almost round in shape, 6-8 mm in diameter. They contain from two to eight seeds.

Where are lilies of the valley found?

Habitat of lilies of the valley:

• forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe,
• Western Siberia,
• Transbaikalia,
• Kurile Islands,
• Sakhalin,
• China,
• Japan,
• Amur region,
• Primorsky Krai,
• Crimea,
• Caucasus,
• North America.

Under natural conditions, lilies of the valley are found in coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests. But there are especially many such flowers in aspen, oak, and birch forests. Lilies of the valley can also be found in meadows and mountain slopes. Lily of the valley loves shade, moisture and humus-rich soil. This plant is not afraid of frost, but does not like drafts. Many people were tempted to bring an unusually fragrant bouquet of lilies of the valley from the forest. Today, this wonderful plant “lives”, unfortunately, also in the Red Book.

When lilies of the valley bloom private territory you have to be special to attentive parents little children. Lily of the valley belongs to medicinal plants, but it's poisonous! And berries are especially toxic.