10 Lily of The Valley Roots for Planting – Perennial Sweet White Flowers, Zones 2-9

Overview

Transform your garden into a fragrant haven with these premium lily of the valley roots. Each package contains 10 large, healthy bare roots, ready for planting to establish a beautiful and low-maintenance ground cover. Known for their delicate bell-shaped white flowers and intoxicating sweet fragrance, Convallaria majalis, commonly called Lily of the Valley, is a beloved perennial that signals the arrival of spring. These resilient roots are perfect for creating lush carpets of green foliage and charming blooms in shaded areas, returning year after year with minimal effort. Planting lily of the valley roots is an excellent way to add timeless elegance and delightful aroma to your landscape.

Originating from temperate regions across Eurasia, Lily of the Valley has long been cherished for its ornamental value and its enchanting scent. These roots are cold hardy, thriving in a wide range of climates from USDA Zones 2 to 9, making them a versatile choice for many gardeners. Whether you’re looking to fill a shaded border, naturalize an area under trees, or create a fragrant pathway, these lily of the valley roots provide an easy and rewarding solution. Their ability to spread slowly makes them an effective and attractive ground cover, suppressing weeds while adding beauty.

Key Benefits

Planting these lily of the valley roots offers numerous advantages for any garden enthusiast. Enjoy the beauty and captivating fragrance they bring to your outdoor space with these key benefits:

• Sweet Fragrance: The most iconic feature, these roots will produce clusters of small, bell-shaped white flowers that release a wonderfully sweet and memorable perfume, especially potent on warm spring days.
• Perennial Blooms: Once established, these plants are true perennials, meaning they will return reliably each spring for many years, providing continuous beauty without the need for replanting.
• Easy to Grow: Known for their hardiness and low-maintenance nature, lily of the valley roots are an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. They thrive with minimal intervention once planted.
• Compact Ground Cover: These plants spread slowly to form a dense, lush green carpet, making them ideal for underplanting trees and shrubs, covering bare spots, or edging pathways, effectively suppressing weeds.
• Shade Loving: Unlike many flowering plants, Lily of the Valley flourishes in partial to full shade, making it perfect for those challenging areas of the garden where other blooms struggle.
• Cold Hardy: With exceptional cold hardiness, these roots are suitable for a broad range of climates, specifically thriving in USDA Zones 2 to 9, ensuring they can withstand harsh winters.
• Naturalizing Ability: Over time, these roots will naturalize and expand their presence, creating an even more impressive display of foliage and fragrant white flowers.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Ensuring the success of your lily of the valley roots is straightforward with the right care. These hardy perennials are relatively low-maintenance, but understanding their preferred conditions will help them flourish. When planting, choose a location that receives partial to full shade. While they can tolerate some morning sun, intense afternoon sun can scorch their leaves. For optimal growth, aim for a spot that gets 2-6 hours of indirect sunlight or dappled shade throughout the day. This will encourage robust foliage and abundant fragrant white flowers.

The ideal soil for lily of the valley roots is well-drained, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0). Amend heavy clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage and aeration. When planting, dig a shallow trench or individual holes about 2-3 inches deep, spacing the roots (pips) about 4-6 inches apart. Ensure the ‘eyes’ (the pointed growing tips) are just at or slightly below the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots. Consistent moisture is crucial, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. A layer of mulch can help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, further simplifying your lily of the valley plant care routine.

Fertilization is generally not heavily required for Lily of the Valley, especially if planted in rich soil. However, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can encourage vigorous growth. These plants are remarkably resilient, rarely troubled by pests or diseases. They are cold hardy to USDA Zone 2, meaning they can withstand very cold winter temperatures and will go dormant, returning with fresh growth in the spring. If you are looking to expand your patch, these plants will slowly spread via rhizomes, making them an excellent choice for a perennial ground cover. Understanding how to plant lily of the valley roots properly will ensure years of enjoyment.

Size & Details

This offering includes 10 large, healthy lily of the valley roots, also known as pips, ready for immediate planting. Each root is carefully selected to ensure viability and robust growth, providing a strong foundation for your garden. Upon planting, these bare roots will quickly establish, producing lush green foliage that typically reaches a height of 6-8 inches. The delicate white, bell-shaped flowers emerge in spring, usually in April or May, adding both visual appeal and a delightful aroma to your landscape. The specific blooms are known for being fragrant white flowers.

These roots are shipped in a dormant state, which is ideal for bare root planting and minimizes transplant shock. Once planted, they will begin to sprout as temperatures rise, developing into a spreading ground cover that can effectively naturalize over time. Expect the plants to form a dense carpet, slowly expanding their footprint to fill in shaded areas. The first year will focus on root establishment and foliage growth, with more abundant flowering in subsequent seasons. These roots are an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and beautiful perennial ground cover, with minimal effort required for ongoing lily of the valley plant care.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these lily of the valley roots get once planted? A: Once established, lily of the valley roots typically grow into plants that reach 6-8 inches in height. They spread slowly via rhizomes, forming a dense ground cover.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Lily of the Valley is primarily an outdoor plant, performing best in garden settings where it can naturalize. It is known for its cold hardiness and preference for shaded outdoor conditions.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: These plants thrive in partial to full shade. They prefer locations with 2-6 hours of indirect or dappled sunlight, and should be protected from intense afternoon sun.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Lily of the Valley is considered very easy to care for. Once planted in the right conditions (shade, well-drained soil), it requires minimal maintenance and is known for its hardiness. This makes lily of the valley plant care quite simple.
• Q: What condition will the roots arrive in? A: The 10 lily of the valley roots will arrive as dormant bare roots, which is the optimal state for planting and ensures they establish well in your garden.
• Q: When is the best time to plant lily of the valley roots? A: The best time to plant these roots is in early spring or fall. Planting in these seasons allows the roots to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, these roots are extremely cold hardy and will survive winter in USDA Zones 2 through 9. They go dormant in winter and re-emerge in spring.
• Q: What is the typical growth rate for this perennial ground cover? A: Lily of the Valley is a moderate spreader, forming a lovely perennial ground cover over time. It will gradually expand its patch, creating a lush carpet of foliage and fragrant white flowers.
• Q: Are the flowers truly fragrant? A: Absolutely! One of the most cherished qualities of Lily of the Valley is its intensely sweet and captivating fragrance, which is particularly noticeable during its spring bloom.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for these roots? A: Lily of the Valley prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal for healthy growth.