Convallaria

The culture has only one single species - lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). It is a perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plant up to 25 cm tall, growing well in the shade of trees. From broadly elliptical double leaves 2-4 cm wide, an extensive carpet is formed. In spring, 10-20 cm high peduncles curved in the upper part with 6-12 white bell-shaped flowers in a racemose inflorescence appear, which have an intense and very pleasant aroma. Many forms and varieties are grown with larger flowers, such as 'Giant Fortina'; with pink or double ones, such as 'Rosea', which has pale pink flowers.

The culture has only one single species - lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). It is a perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plant up to 25 cm tall, growing well in the shade of trees. From broadly elliptical double leaves 2-4 cm wide, an extensive carpet is formed. In spring, 10-20 cm high peduncles curved in the upper part with 6-12 white bell-shaped flowers in a racemose inflorescence appear, which have an intense and very pleasant aroma.

Many forms and varieties are grown with larger flowers, such as 'Giant Fortina'; with pink or double ones, such as 'Rosea', which has pale pink flowers.

Cultivation

Lilies of the valley are grown in gardens and parks in the shade of trees and shrubs that create a suitable microclimate. Lilies of the valley quickly grow into large curtains. It is also used for forcing and cutting. They can also be grown at home in pots. When cultivating in the open ground, light loam rich in humus is required, which is mixed with leaf humus so that the land is always in a moderately moist state. Plants are planted at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, while part of the rhizome is located close to the ground surface. When growing in pots, use mixed soil with sand (25%) and leaf humus (25%); add mineral fertilizers (15-20 g per bucket of soil) and rotted manure. When growing both in the open ground and in pots, a complex mineral fertilizer in the amount of 10-20 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 15-20 days.

Location

Lily of the valley plantings are usually located in a shady place.

Temperature

Lily of the valley is resistant to cold weather.

Watering

Water regularly intensively to keep the soil moist all the time. Lily of the valley is very moisture-loving and does not tolerate over drying.

Transplant

Transplanted to a new place in the spring once every 2-3 years, depending on the degree of development of the rhizome of the plant.

Care

It is enough to remove damaged parts of plants.

Reproduction

In autumn or spring, the rhizome is divided, the resulting parts are immediately planted in the ground to a depth of 1-2 cm and covered with a spout of 2-3 cm of peat or humus, then watered abundantly. In the second year, they are fed with a full mineral fertilizer.

Diseases

The most common fungal disease is the gray rot of vegetable crops (Botrytis cinerea), which covers the leaves and flowers, spreading rapidly. They get rid of it by treating it with fungicides. Another disease is Gloeosporium convallariae, which causes red-bordered spots and wounds on the leaves. The appearance of yellow spots is caused by Dendronema of the lily of the valley (Dendronema convallariae). Both are treated with appropriate fungicidal preparations. Of the insects, very much harm is caused by sawflies gnawing leaves. Plants in this case are treated with appropriate insecticides. The roots are damaged by nematodes. Their appearance can only be prevented (by treating the ground with nematocides or planting several marigolds nearby). If the plant is affected, it is urgently removed.

The most common fungal disease is the gray rot of vegetable crops (Botrytis cinerea), which covers the leaves and flowers, spreading rapidly. They get rid of it by treating it with fungicides.

Another disease is Gloeosporium convallariae, which causes red-bordered spots and wounds on the leaves. The appearance of yellow spots is caused by Dendronema of the lily of the valley (Dendronema convallariae).

Both are treated with appropriate fungicidal preparations.

Of the insects, very much harm is caused by sawflies gnawing leaves. Plants in this case are treated with appropriate insecticides. The roots are damaged by nematodes. Their appearance can only be prevented (by treating the ground with nematocides or planting several marigolds nearby). If the plant is affected, it is urgently removed.

Acquisition

Seedlings and rhizomes are purchased in horticultural centers and specialized flower nurseries, making sure that they are healthy and whole.

Names of lily of the valley The Latin name of the lily of the valley Convallaria majalis translates as "May lily of the valleys", because the lily of the valley, like many lilies of the valley, grows in vast expanses around forests. In rural Europe, the lily of the valley is known as the "tears of the Madonna" and "steps to heaven" because the poor used to adorn altars with these flowers in earlier times. It is assumed that this word is formed by merging the words "fallow deer" and " ear "(based on the principle of similarity of the leaves of the lily of the valley with the ear of a fallow deer). In France, it is a symbol of spring, and on May 1, a bouquet of lilies of the valley is inserted into the buttonhole or pinned to clothes. Like a lily of the valley In horticultural centers and nurseries called "Japanese lily of the valley" (Convallaria japonica), they often sell a groundcover plant that is ideal for forming a grassy carpet under trees and in very shady places where no other crop can grow. But this species does not belong to the genus Lily of the Valley (Convallaria). Its correct name is Ophiopogon japonica. Its leaves are similar to those of the lily of the valley, but the resulting fruit - berries have an intense blue color.

Names of lily of the valley

The Latin name of the lily of the valley Convallaria majalis translates as "May lily of the valleys", because the lily of the valley, like many lilies of the valley, grows in vast expanses around forests. In rural Europe, the lily of the valley is known as the "tears of the Madonna" and "steps to heaven" because the poor used to adorn altars with these flowers in earlier times. It is assumed that this word is formed by merging the words "fallow deer" and " ear "(based on the principle of similarity of the leaves of the lily of the valley with the ear of a fallow deer). In France, it is a symbol of spring, and on May 1, a bouquet of lilies of the valley is inserted into the buttonhole or pinned to clothes.

Like a lily of the valley

In horticultural centers and nurseries called "Japanese lily of the valley" (Convallaria japonica), they often sell a groundcover plant that is ideal for forming a grassy carpet under trees and in very shady places where no other crop can grow. But this species does not belong to the genus Lily of the Valley (Convallaria). Its correct name is Ophiopogon japonica. Its leaves are similar to those of the lily of the valley, but the resulting fruit - berries have an intense blue color.