How big does Lily of the valley grow?

About 25 cm × 30 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 15–30 cm × 20–30 cm.

What soil does Lily of the valley grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay.

Is Lily of the valley hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Lily of the valley toxic to dogs?

Yes, it is highly toxic to dogs: even a small amount can be life-threatening.

Is Lily of the valley toxic to cats?

Yes, it is highly toxic to cats: even a small amount can be life-threatening.

Is Lily of the valley toxic to children?

Yes, it is highly toxic to children: even a small amount can be life-threatening.

When does Lily of the valley flower?

Flowering: April–June, white, pink.

How much water does Lily of the valley need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a ground cover plant that reaches 25 cm × 30 cm after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Highly toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about PLN 8.80.

Illustration of Lily of the valley — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A woodland ground cover that carries strongly scented white bells (pale pink in some forms) in late spring and makes a dense carpet under trees and shrubs, even in shade. It spreads on its own by rhizomes and pushes out weaker neighbours, so plant it where that does not matter or contain it. Every part is highly poisonous, the red berries of late summer included, so think twice before using it in a garden with small children or pets.

Watch out for

Where it is happy it spreads relentlessly by rhizomes and is hard to get rid of. In hot, dry summers the foliage browns and dies back early and it scorches in full sun; in the warm lowland gardens of Central Europe it only stays attractive in shade and moist soil. Dense colonies flower less over time and can be renewed by division. Leaf spot, anthracnose, stem rot, aphids and spider mites can occur.

Highly toxic

Every part of the plant is highly poisonous to people, dogs, cats and horses: the leaves, flowers, rhizomes and the red berries that ripen in late summer all contain glycosides that act on the heart. Swallowing it can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, a slow and irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation and, in severe cases, seizures and coma. Children are mostly tempted by the red berries, and the leaves can be mistaken for wild garlic, which has led to fatal poisonings. If a child or an animal has eaten any of it, get medical or veterinary help at once.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 25 cm × 30 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, white, pink

All details

Group	Ground cover
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	25 cm × 30 cm
Ultimate size	15–30 cm × 20–30 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–June, white, pink
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	20 cm
For dogs	Highly toxic
For cats	Highly toxic
For children	Highly toxic
Typical price	from about PLN 8.80

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 8.80

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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