With its delicate pink bell flowers and sweet fragrance, pink lily of the valley is a delightful old-fashioned perennial. This shade-loving plant thrives as a carefree groundcover and also works nicely in containers. Read on for tips on growing and caring for pink lily of the valley in your garden.
Overview of Pink Lily of the Valley
Pink lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis var. rosea) offers all the charms of the classic white variety but with a soft baby pink color. It emerges early in spring producing nodding bell-shaped blooms along thin arching stems. The flowers have a lovely, gentle fragrance.
While the blooms are short-lived, the foliage persists into late summer. The lance-shaped leaves remain fresh green. In fall, bright orange-red berries appear. This variety spreads readily, forming an attractive carpet. Mature size is 6 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. Zones 2-8.
Growing Conditions for Pink Lily of the Valley
Pink lily of the valley thrives in part to full shade exposure. Dappled sunlight under trees is ideal. Well-drained soil with average fertility and moisture is best. Although tolerant of drought, consistent water during dry periods helps it spread.
Give this plant room to roam as groundcover. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. It grows well in woodlands, along patios and walkways, tucked under shrubs and in rock gardens. It also works nicely in container gardens.
Planting Pink Lily of the Valley
Pink lily of the valley is sold as dormant bare root plants. To plant, dig a hole no deeper than the root mass and set the crown just below soil level. Work soil around the roots and firm gently. Space 12-18 inches apart.
Water well after planting and provide shade until new growth emerges. Container plants can be planted anytime during the growing season. Gently loosen the root ball and plant at the same level as grown in the pot. Keep soil moist but not saturated.
Caring for Pink Lily of the Valley
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Water Keep soil lightly moist but not soggy wet Avoid overhead irrigation
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Light: Dappled sunlight to full shade. Avoid hot afternoon sun.
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Soil: Average garden soil with good drainage. Prefers slightly acidic pH.
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Fertilizer: Apply general purpose fertilizer in early spring. Avoid high nitrogen formulas.
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Pruning: Remove spent flowers and prune overly long stems after blooming.
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Propagation: Divide congested plants in fall. Can also grow new plants from cuttings and berry segments.
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Hardiness Zones: 2-8
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Pest problems: Spider mites, scale, mealybugs
Tips for Growing Pink Lily of the Valley
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Plant en masse for a fragrant, flowering groundcover. Space 12-18 inches apart for fast spread.
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Grow in containers for a movable perfume factory. Partner with ferns or ivy for textures.
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Site carefully, as it can spread aggressively. Avoid planting near foundations or driveways.
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Snip a few stems to display indoors in bud vases. The blooms perfume an entire room.
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Cut back flower stems after blooming but keep foliage intact until it yellows in late summer.
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Divide when plants become overcrowded. Replant divisions 12 inches apart to expand or fill in planting.
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Remove spent flowers promptly to encourage continued blooming and prevent self-seeding.
Common Problems With Pink Lily of the Valley
This tough perennial has no serious pest or disease problems. Potential issues include:
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Leaf spots caused by overcrowding, excessive moisture or poor drainage. Improve air circulation and avoid wetting foliage.
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Powdery mildew on leaves. Apply horticultural oil spray or baking soda solution. Improve air flow.
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Root rot from overly wet soil. Allow soil to dry between waterings. Avoid excessive mulch.
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Rodent or rabbit damage. Apply repellent spray if needed. Avoid mulching around plants.
How to Use Pink Lily of the Valley in the Landscape
Use pink lily of the valley as a carefree groundcover under trees and shrubs. Its lush foliage crowds out weeds. Effective for mass plantings, edging beds and pathways, and in rock gardens. Works well in raised planters and patio containers too. Plant its early blooms with spring bulbs and ephemerals. Scented flowers brighten shady spots before foliage fills in.
With proper siting and occasional pruning to contain spread, pink lily of the valley is an easy way to carpet shady areas. The pink blooms provide charming spring color and fragrance in the garden.
Presenting a rare version of a beloved favourite. You’re not seeing things: this really is a lily-of-the-valley with pale pink blooms instead of the familiar white ones! As with its popular relative, the delicate-looking, nodding blooms belie its tough nature. Flowering from late spring until early summer, Pink Lily-of-the-Valley continues to provide colour to its surroundings by forming vibrant orange berries in late summer. To fully enjoy its lovely blooms and sweet fragrance, consider planting it in clusters. This vigorous variety serves as an excellent ground cover in shade gardens, beneath trees and within rockeries. Bring a few stems indoors to create a lovely display in a small vase.
- Light Partial Shade, Full Shade
- Size #1 root
- Zone 3-9
- Bloom Time Mid to late spring
- Height 6 – 8 inches
- Soil Requirement Well drained
- Deer Resistant
- Planter Friendly
Well carefully pack and ship your order at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone.
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- Botanical NameConvallaria majalis Rosea
- FormPerennial
- Hardiness Zone3-9
- Flowering TimeMid to late spring
- Light RequirementsPartial Shade, Full Shade
- Flower ColorPale to light pink
- Flower FormFragile looking, 1/4″ bell-shaped flowers with a scalloped edge.
- Foliage TypeGreen, glossy, elliptical leaves.
- Growth RateMedium
- Height/Habit6 – 8 inches
- Spread4 – 6 inches
- Spacing4 – 6 inches
- How to Plant: The plant’s crown should be just below the soil and 4 to 6″ apart.
- Soil RequirementsWell drained
- Will TolerateAcidic Soil, Clay Soil, Loamy Soil, Sandy Soil
- PruningNot needed
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Based on what’s in your order, we always try to ship it all at once and as early in the planting season as possible to give the plants the best chance to grow roots.
Bareroot perennials are kept in the ground in our nurseries until they are fully dormant so that they are best protected from stress during transport and so that you can have the best results in the garden. In the Fall these plants tend to arrive at the later end of the shipping window above.
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- Shipping & Handling Charges Total Order Add Up to $40. 00 order $10. 95 $40. 01 to $60. 00 $14. 95 $60. 01 to $80. 00 $16. 95 $80. 01 to $100. 00 $18. 95 $100. 01 to over $20. 95 .
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How to Grow Lily-of-the-Valley Indoors – White Flower Farm
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