Finding the Best Lily of the Valley Seeds for Sale

Lily of the valley is a cherished shade garden flower that produces graceful nodding blooms with an exquisite fragrance in spring. This classic perennial has been a beloved part of gardens for centuries but can be challenging to find at local nurseries. Purchasing lily of the valley seeds is an affordable way to add this heirloom flower to your garden. Here is everything you need to know about finding the best lily of the valley seeds for sale online and getting beautiful results!

About Lily of the Valley Plants

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is an herbaceous perennial plant in the Asparagaceae family native to Asia and Europe. It emerges early each spring with lance-shaped green leaves growing from spreading rhizomes.

In May, lily of the valley sends up flower stalks bearing tiny, bell-shaped pendulous white blooms that dangle down like pearl necklaces. The flowers have a wonderfully sweet, intense fragrance that perfumes the garden.

After blooming, small orange-red berries form which contain seeds. Lily of the valley spreads slowly by underground rhizomes and self-seeding to form attractive carpets of greenery.

This easy care plant thrives in partial to full shade in rich, moist soil. It is cold hardy to zone 3. Once established, lily of the valley is drought tolerant and deer resistant.

Benefits of Buying Lily of the Valley Seeds

Purchasing lily of the valley seeds has many advantages over buying young potted plants:

• More affordable – Packets of seeds are much cheaper than individual container-grown plants. This allows you to buy large quantities.

• Establishes well – Starting lily of the valley from seed enables the plants to grow deep roots right from the beginning, helping them establish vigorously.

• Fun to grow – Watching the seeds sprout and grow into mature flowering plants is enjoyable and educational for gardeners.

• Expand your patch easily – Having a supply of seeds makes it easy to grow more lily of the valley plants each year to enlarge your garden patch.

• Unique varieties – Seed strains offer more diversity, with some special selections not found at nurseries.

What to Look for When Buying Lily of the Valley Seeds

Here are some tips on selecting high quality lily of the valley seeds online:

• Reputable seller – Purchase from a trusted seller with good reviews and satisfied customers. Avoid unknown sellers.

• Heirloom variety – Open-pollinated heirloom seeds produce plants identical to the parent. Hybrid seeds may not come true.

• Fresh seeds – Check the expiration date and reviews to ensure viability. Lily of the valley seeds remain viable for 1-2 years if stored properly.

• Good return policy – In case seeds fail to germinate, select a company that guarantees returns/replacements.

• Details – Product details should identify the botanical name (Convallaria majalis) and provide origin, purity and growing instructions.

• Quantity – Packets of 25, 50 or 100 seeds allow you to grow more plants. Bulk packs offer the best value.

When to Buy and Plant Lily of the Valley Seeds

Lily of the valley seeds require a period of cold, moist stratification before they will sprout. They are ideally sown outdoors in fall, or pre-treated and started indoors in late winter.

Fall planting is easiest – simply sow seeds where you want plants to grow and let them naturally stratify in the ground over winter, germinating the following spring.

For spring planting, first moisten seeds and mix with damp sand. Seal in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 3-4 months, checking periodically. In late winter, remove and sow seeds in containers indoors to grow transplants.

How to Plant Lily of the Valley Seeds

Follow these steps to successfully plant your lily of the valley seeds:

Fall Outdoor Planting

• Prepare the planting bed in fall in a shady area with rich, moist soil amended with compost.

• Sow fresh seeds on the soil surface 1⁄4 inch deep and 12 inches apart in early fall (September – November).

• Water gently to settle seeds into the soil without washing them away.

• Mulch over seeds with 2 inches of shredded leaves or bark to protect them over winter.

• The seeds will naturally stratify in the ground and sprout next spring.

Spring Indoor Planting

• 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date, soak seeds in water overnight.

• Mix seeds with damp sand and store sealed in refrigeration (40 degrees F) for 12-16 weeks.

• In late winter, remove seeds from refrigeration. Sow indoors 1⁄4 inch deep in seed starting mix.

• Maintain a temperature of 65-70 degrees F until sprouts emerge in 3-8 weeks.

• When seedlings have 2-3 leaves, transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Ongoing Care of Lily of the Valley Plants

Lily of the valley care after planting is easy. Here are some tips:

• Water first year plantings regularly if rainfall is insufficient. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant.

• Apply organic fertilizer or compost annually in early spring.

• Remove faded flower stems after blooming concludes.

• Mulch plants with 2-3 inches of bark chips or shredded leaves to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

• Transplant seedlings 12-18 inches apart for good spreading room.

• Divide congested patches every 3-5 years in fall and replant divisions.

• Watch for slugs and snails, handpicking to prevent damage to foliage and blooms.

Tips for Growing Lily of the Valley Successfully from Seed

Follow these guidelines to help your lily of the valley seeds produce abundant plants:

• Start with fresh, high quality seeds from a reputable provider.

• Choose an appropriate planting time and pre-treat seeds correctly.

• Prepare the planting site with organic matter enriched soil.

• Use proper planting depths and spacing recommendations.

• Water seedlings consistently after sprouting until they become established.

• Allow 2-3 years for young plants to reach maturity and begin blooming.

• Mulch seeded areas to retain moisture and control weeds.

• Prevent seed predation from ants, slugs and snails.

• Be patient – lily of the valley seeds will reward your efforts once successfully germinated.

Companion Plants for Lily of the Valley

The elegant flowers and foliage of lily of the valley complement many other shade perennials. Combine lily of the valley seeded areas with these plants:

• Ferns
• Hostas
• Astilbes
• Hellebores
• Heucheras
• Pulmonarias
• Bleeding hearts
• Violets
• Primroses
• Wild gingers
• Epimediums
• European ginger

Blending lily of the valley with other shade lovers provides beautiful varied textures and flower colors.

Uses for Seeded Lily of the Valley Plants

Some ways to utilize lily of the valley started from seed in your landscape include:

• Groundcover or edging in shady beds and borders
• Mass planted under trees or along foundations and walls
• Planted in containers and window boxes
• Grown in rock gardens, wildflower areas or woodland settings
• Used as a flowering lawn substitute or rolled into lawns
• Border pathways, fences or garden structures
• Cut flowers for indoor arrangements

With proper planting and care, lily of the valley seeds can yield an abundant patch of these cherished blooms to perfume your garden every spring.