Lily of the valley is a beautiful woodland native, which gives us a huge hint about where it likes to live in your backyard. Since it naturally thrives under the canopy of deciduous forests, you’ll want to mimic those cozy, forest-floor conditions to keep it happy.
Shade or Partial Shade?
These little white bells absolutely love the shade. When picking a spot, look for a corner of your garden that stays cool and protected under the shadow of trees. While they can usually handle partial shade, you definitely want to avoid any spot that gets blasted by intense midday sun. Ideally, your blooms should only catch a little bit of gentle sunlight during the early morning or late evening hours.
Getting the Soil Just Right
When it comes to the dirt, lily of the valley prefers a loose, airy texture. You’re looking for a “Goldilocks” balance: the soil needs to stay consistently moist so it doesn’t dry out, but it must drain well enough that the roots aren’t sitting in soggy puddles. These plants are also big fans of organic matter. Before you get planting, it’s a great idea to mix in some well-aged compost to give the soil that rich, humus-heavy boost they crave.
Choose Your Spot Wisely
Here’s a pro tip: think of lily of the valley as a “forever” guest. While they do produce seeds, they primarily spread via their underground root systems (rhizomes)—and they are incredibly good at it! Because propagating through root division is so effective, even a tiny piece of root left behind in the soil can sprout a brand-new plant. This makes transplanting them later on a bit of a headache. Save yourself the trouble and pick a permanent home for them from the start.
To recap, the perfect home for your lily of the valley should be:
- Tucked away in shade or partial shade
- Filled with loose, nutrient-rich soil
- Consistently moist but never waterlogged
