When does lily-of-the-valley bloom?

Convallaria majalis blooms in spring, typically from April through June, producing small, bell-shaped white flowers on arching stems.

How much light does lily-of-the-valley need?

This plant does best in part shade but tolerates a range from partial sun to full shade, making it suited to woodland-edge or shaded garden beds.

How much water does lily-of-the-valley need?

Lily-of-the-valley grows well with medium, consistent moisture and can handle drier soil once it is established, though it does not tolerate standing water.

What pollinators visit lily-of-the-valley flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Convallaria majalis flowers, attracted to their sweet fragrance during the spring bloom period.

Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to dogs?

Yes. Lily-of-the-valley is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to cats?

Yes. Lily-of-the-valley is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Lily-of-the-valley as toxic to livestock.

Is Lily-of-the-valley HOA-friendly?

Lily-of-the-valley takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Lily-of-the-valley

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Convallaria majalis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) is a perennial forb. It blooms in April, May, and June. The flowers draw bees and beetles.

Lily-of-the-valley is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Lily-of-the-valley as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

6"–12" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Native alternatives to Lily-of-the-valley

Lily-of-the-valley is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

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Lily-of-the-valley is a low-growing perennial groundcover with fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in spring. It forms neat colonies through underground rhizomes and produces bright green heart-shaped leaves that create a uniform carpet effect.

Growing Lily-of-the-valley

Grow Lily-of-the-valley in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 12 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Lily-of-the-valley takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Highly toxic to children and pets
Can become invasive and spread aggressively

Wildlife value

The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. All parts of the plant are toxic to humans and pets, so wildlife browsing is limited.

Common questions

When does lily-of-the-valley bloom?: Convallaria majalis blooms in spring, typically from April through June, producing small, bell-shaped white flowers on arching stems.
How much light does lily-of-the-valley need?: This plant does best in part shade but tolerates a range from partial sun to full shade, making it suited to woodland-edge or shaded garden beds.
How much water does lily-of-the-valley need?: Lily-of-the-valley grows well with medium, consistent moisture and can handle drier soil once it is established, though it does not tolerate standing water.
What pollinators visit lily-of-the-valley flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Convallaria majalis flowers, attracted to their sweet fragrance during the spring bloom period.
Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to dogs?: Yes. Lily-of-the-valley is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to cats?: Yes. Lily-of-the-valley is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Lily-of-the-valley toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Lily-of-the-valley as toxic to livestock.
Is Lily-of-the-valley HOA-friendly?: Lily-of-the-valley takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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