All About the Bordeaux Lily of the Valley

The Bordeaux lily of the valley is a stunning variety of the classic lily of the valley plant With eye-catching reddish-bronze foliage and elegant white blooms, this perennial provides unique color and texture to shady garden beds and borders. Read on to learn more about growing and caring for Convallaria majalis ‘Bordeaux’.

Overview

  • Common Name Bordeaux lily of the valley

  • Botanical Name Convallaria majalis ‘Bordeaux’

  • Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

  • Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide

  • Flowers: White, bell-shaped, fragrant

  • Leaf Color: Bronze-red

  • Hardiness Zone: 2-7

  • Native Area: Europe, Northern Asia

  • Light Requirements: Partial shade to full shade

  • Soil: Moist, well-draining, humus-rich

  • pH Range: 5.5-7.5

  • Deer Resistance: Rated moderate/high

The Bordeaux lily of the valley is a low-growing perennial prized for its sweetly scented white blooms and stunning deep reddish-bronze foliage that provides unique color contrast in shady plantings.

Appearance and Characteristics

This lily of the valley cultivar bears some similarities to the common species, but also exhibits distinctive features:

  • Grows 6-12 inches tall and spreads steadily to form clumps 12-18 inches wide.

  • Emerges in early spring with oval leaves that are copper-red to maroon in color.

  • Leaves retain their reddish-bronze hue throughout the season rather than fading to green.

  • Delicate, bell-shaped white flowers dangle beneath red foliage in spring on drooping stems.

  • Blooms are lightly fragrant with a sweet, refreshing scent.

  • Spreads slowly via underground rhizomes to form dense colonies.

  • Foliage often persists through winter in milder climates.

Growing Conditions

Bordeaux lily of the valley thrives in the following conditions:

  • Hardiness Zones: 2-7

  • Light: Grows best in partial shade to full shade.

  • Soil: Rich, moist, loose soil high in organic matter.

  • pH Range: 5.5-7.5

  • Moisture: Prefers consistently moist, well-draining soil.

  • Maintenance: Low-maintenance once established.

Plant in a shady area with fertile soil. Provide supplemental water during periods of drought. Remove spent flower stems after blooming. Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years.

Planting and Care

Follow these tips for successfully growing Bordeaux lily of the valley:

  • Plant in spring or fall. Space plants 12 inches apart.

  • Loosen soil to a depth of 12+ inches and mix in compost or peat moss.

  • Plant crowns or divisions just deep enough to cover roots.

  • Water thoroughly after planting and as needed during drought.

  • Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture.

  • Remove faded flowers to prevent self-seeding.

  • Divide congested plants in fall every 2-3 years.

  • Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring if growth seems weak.

  • Prune off diseased or damaged foliage as needed.

Propagation

Bordeaux lily of the valley can be propagated by:

Division – Divide mature plants in early fall by carefully digging up clumps and separating into smaller sections. Replant divisions 12 inches apart.

Container Division – Remove suckers that form on the perimeter of pots. Pot up with potting mix.

Root Cuttings – Take 3-4 inch rhizome sections in fall. Plant horizontally 1 inch deep in pots.

Problems and Pests

This plant has no serious insect or disease issues. Potential issues include:

  • Leaf Spot – Small brown spots on foliage. Improve airflow and avoid overhead watering.

  • Powdery Mildew – White powdery coating on leaves. Apply neem oil or sulfur spray.

  • Root Rot – Dark roots, yellowing leaves. Avoid overwatering and improve drainage.

  • Voles – Can damage roots and crowns. Use physical barriers to protect bulbs.

Uses in the Landscape

Some ideas for utilizing Bordeaux lily of the valley in gardens:

  • Groundcover beneath trees and shrubs

  • Mass along foundations, walls, and fences

  • Border edges along wooded areas

  • Accent for spring bulbs and summer annuals

  • Mix with ferns, hostas, coral bells

  • Containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets

  • Naturalize along paths, patios, and woodland gardens

Companion Plants and Design Idea

  • Hostas, astilbes, ferns

  • Coral bells, pulmonaria, brunnera

  • Bleeding hearts, hellebores

  • Carex, hakonechloa, ophiopogon

  • Plant en masse beneath a shade tree underplanted with purple leaf lamium and hostas. Allow plants to spread and intermingle.

Common Lookalike Plants

  • Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) – Herbaceous perennial with whorled green leaves and white spring flowers.

  • Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) – Arching stems with alternating oval leaves and bell-shaped flowers.

  • Lily turf (Liriope) – Tufts of straplike foliage and late summer flower spikes.

  • Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – Low groundcover with heart-shaped leaves and unique purple flowers.

Quick Facts

  • Part of the asparagus family, along with ornamental alliums and hyacinths.

  • All parts of the plant contain cardioactive steroids and are considered poisonous if ingested.

  • The fragrant flowers contain nectar that is toxic to honeybees.

  • Used in traditional herbal medicine to treat conditions like arthritis, sore throat, cramps, and skin irritations.

  • Classified as an aggressive, invasive exotic species in some parts of Australia and New Zealand.

  • The wild species is known as Our Lady’s Tears, named after the Virgin Mary’s tears at Jesus’ crucifixion.

With its vivid reddish-bronze foliage and classic white blooms, the Bordeaux lily of the valley makes a distinctive addition to shady gardens. Plant some of this compact perennial groundcover to add elegance along with sweet fragrance!

bordeaux lily of the valley

Planting a new lily-of-the-valley hybrid: Convallaria majalis ‘Bordeaux’ [4K]

FAQ

Where do lily of the valley grow best?

Lily of the valley prefers a cool, moist, shaded area with a soil containing organic matter. Its ability to thrive in the shade is one reason for its popularity as a groundcover, although it may not flower in extremely dense shade.

Why are lily of the valley so expensive?

LILY OF THE VALLEY It is considered one of the most expensive flowers due to its fragile nature, seasonal and short lifespan characteristics.

How invasive is lily of the valley?

While it’s a beloved plant in many gardens due to its beautiful flowers and fragrance, it can be considered invasive in certain areas, especially in the United States, where it is not native.

Is it okay to touch lily of the valley?

Lily of the valley may impact your vision and lead to symptoms such as blurry vision or seeing halos around objects. Depression, loss of appetite, and halos in your vision usually only happen when you overdose. Skin symptoms. Touching lily of the valley may lead to skin irritation.

What is a lily of the valley?

Unlike the species, ‘Bordeaux’ produces larger bell-shaped flowers on stems that are held above the foliage as opposed to between the leaves. A real charmer and an outstanding performer, Lily of The Valley is trouble-free, requires little maintenance and is deer and rabbit resistant. Long-lived, it naturalizes easily to form extensive colonies.

What does a Bordeaux plant look like?

An improved version of an old-fashioned favorite. ‘Bordeaux’ produces pure white, larger bell-shaped flowers on stems that are held above the foliage as opposed to between the leaves. Each stem bears an average of 8-12 bells compared to 6-8 bells on C. majalis. The tulip-like foliage is also reported to be darker green and more rounded.

How do I choose a lily of the valley?

When buying lily of the valley, look for named varieties to get the best flower and plant forms. ‘Bordeaux’ lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis ‘Bordeaux’) opens larger flowers on stems that stand above the leaves, as opposed to stems that are tucked between leaves. Julie is an enthusiastic gardener with a passion for year-round color.

How many bells does a ‘Bordeaux’ flower have?

Each stem bears an average of 8-12 bells compared to 6-8 bells on C. majalis. The tulip-like foliage is also reported to be darker green and more rounded. The flowers of ‘Bordeaux’ appear in spring and last for several weeks. These blossoms are very fragrant; they are even used in making perfume! Tiny orange berries follow the flowers.

How many bells does a ‘Bordeaux’ Tulip have?

Each stem bears an average of 8-12 bells compared to 6-8 bells on C. majalis. The tulip-like foliage is also reported to be darker green and more rounded. The flowers of ‘Bordeaux’ appear in spring and last for several weeks.

Does blue lily of the valley exist?

Blue lily of the valley does not currently exist. There are plants being sold online that masquerade as blue lily of the valley. If you look closely at the photos, they’re actually grape hyacinth plants (Muscari).

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