Lily-of-the-valley - Convallaria majalis

Alternative names
May Lily
Description

The flowers are white in colour and bell-shaped. They grow in a one-sided spike which droops to one side. The leaves are oval and untoothed.  They are basal and grow in pairs. Later in the season it produces orangey red berries which are poisonous.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph on the plant in habitat (RPR if native)

Habitat

Sometimes found in well established, dry woodland, but most likely to be encountered as a throw out or escape from cultivation.

When to see it

Flowering season: May to June.

Life History

Rhizomatous perennial.

UK Status

Fairly widespread in Britain, but usually occurs as an escape from cultivation.

VC55 Status

It is listed in the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi and Evans 1988) in 6 tetrads, and in the Flora of Rutland (Messenger 1971) in 4 tetrads

It is listed on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward 2022) as Locally Rare (i.e. present in less than 3 sites) as a native species. 

It is usually encountered in our area as a garden throw out, an escape from cultivation, or as a deliberate introduction. 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Lily-of-the-valley
Species group:
flowering plant
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Asparagaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
9
First record:
30/04/2020 (Lewis, Steven)
Last record:
12/05/2026 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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