Where to Buy Lily of the Valley Plants for Your Garden

Lily of the valley is one of the most beloved shade plants for gardens. With its charming white bell-shaped flowers and sweet fragrance, this perennial provides a magical touch to shady spots. If you want to add this classic beauty to your own garden you may be wondering where to find lily of the valley plants for sale.

In this article, we’ll discuss the best places to buy lily of the valley online and what to look for when purchasing this plant. We’ll also provide tips on how to choose the right lily of the valley for your specific needs and how to care for it once planted. Let’s dive in!

A Bit About Lily of the Valley

Before we get into the where to buy part, let’s do a quick overview of this plant. Lily of the valley, scientific name Convallaria majalis, is a herbaceous perennial that grows from an underground rhizome. It’s native to cool, temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

The dainty, nodding flowers bloom in spring on upright stalks 6-8 inches tall. Each stalk is lined with oval, light green leaves and can produce 5-15 fragrant white bell-shaped blooms Foliage remains green throughout summer and fall before dying back in winter

An important note is that lily of the valley is considered an aggressive spreader. It forms thick colonies by spreading its underground rhizomes. For this reason, it’s a great ground cover option but requires confinement through borders or barriers if you don’t want it taking over.

Now let’s look at the best places to purchase this popular plant.

Purchase Lily of the Valley Online

One of the easiest ways to buy lily of the valley is from an online plant nursery or retailer. Purchasing plants online provides access to a wider selection and inventory compared to local garden centers. It’s also very convenient, saves time and plants are delivered directly to your door.

When buying lily of the valley online, here are some reputable sources to check out:

Breck’s

Breck’s is a well-established bulb and plant company that offers bare root lily of the valley for sale. Their plants are shipped at the optimal planting time for each growing zone. Breck’s lilies come in pack sizes from 3 to 100 rhizomes.

Perennial Nursery

This nursery specializes in perennials, ferns, trees, and shrubs. They sell lily of the valley bare root rhizomes by the each or in bulk packs. Volume discounts are available.

American Meadows

American Meadows carries potted lily of the valley plants. Pots make it easier to see the size and health of plants before purchasing. They offer the typical species along with giant lily of the valley cultivars.

Nature Hills Nursery

Nature Hills sells both potted and bare root options for lily of the valley. Bare roots come in packs of 5 or 15 plants. Their potted plants are shipped in 2.5 inch pots when 6 inches tall.

###Plant Delights Nursery

This nursery offers uncommon and hard to find perennials, including special lily of the valley varieties like variegated foliage types. Their plants are potted and shipped based on your gardening zone.

Lowes

For the convenience of a local pick up option, check your neighborhood Lowes garden center. Lily of the valley is carried seasonally, usually in spring. Available as individual bare root clumps or pots.

What to Look for When Buying Lily of the Valley

When choosing lily of the valley plants, whether ordering online or buying in person, here are a few things to look for:

• Healthy roots – Roots should be plump and firm, not shriveled. Avoid plants with brown or mushy roots.

• Established crowns – Each rhizome or pot should have a well developed crown, the central point where stalks emerge.

• Good foliage – Leaves should be green and perky, no signs of wilting, spots, or yellowing.

• Mature size – Check plant maturity based on your timeline. Smaller younger plants take 1-2 years to reach maturity. Larger plants provide faster impact.

• Number of growth points – Rhizomes and pots with more growth points will establish and spread faster. 3-5 points per section is ideal.

• Packaging – For mail orders, ensure packaging protects roots and prevents drying out. Should include moisture retention.

How Many Lily of the Valley Plants to Purchase

When buying lily of the valley, it’s important to note that this plant spreads…a lot! To achieve a full, thick patch for your garden, you need less plants than you may think. Here are some guidelines on quantities to purchase:

• Borders – Space plants 8-12 inches apart. For a 4 foot long border, 5-7 plants is sufficient.

• Around trees/foundations – Plant 8-10 inches apart. You need 3-5 plants for small trees and 15-20 plants for larger areas.

• Ground cover – Space 6-8 inches apart. To fill a 100 sq ft area, 25-30 plants is ideal.

• Containers – Plant densely, 4-6 inches apart. You’ll need 4-6 plants for a 10-12 inch pot.

Remember lily of the valley grows rapidly once settled in. It’s better to start with fewer plants and let it multiply over time. You can always add more later on if needed.

Tips for Planting and Caring for Lily of the Valley

To help your new lily of the valley plants thrive, here are some planting and care tips:

• Prepare a planting bed in partial to full shade with rich, humus-heavy soil. Lily of the valley prefers neutrally acidic soil pH.

• Plant the rhizomes or pots 2-3 inches deep and water well after planting.

• Space plants appropriately based on your planting goals (see previous section).

• Water 1-2 times per week until established. Mature plants are fairly drought tolerant.

• Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost 1-2 times per year. Avoid high nitrogen mixes.

• Remove spent flower stems after blooming to maintain a tidy appearance.

• Every 2-3 years, divide congested clumps to stimulate growth. Replant divisions 8-12 inches apart.

• To contain spread, install subsurface barriers such as plastic, metal, or concrete edging. Monitor boundaries vigilantly.

Enjoying Lily of the Valley in the Garden

With the right growing conditions and care, lily of the valley is sure to be a treasured addition to shady garden beds, borders, foundations, and wooded areas. Be sure to plant near paths, patios, and other high traffic spots where its enticing fragrance can be enjoyed. Those sweetly scented white bells create a quintessential spring scene.

Now that you know where to find and how to choose high quality lily of the valley plants, you can confidently purchase them to enhance your own garden. Recreate the magic and nostalgia of this old-fashioned favorite. Just take care to account for its wandering ways and enjoy its charm for years to come.