When do lilies of the valley bloom? May lily of the valley - dangerous berries of a delicate flower Lilies of the valley will appear.

Lily of the valley (lat. Convallaria) is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the monocotyledonous class, the superorder Lilianae, the asparagus order, the asparagus family, the nolin subfamily, the lily of the valley genus. This beautiful flower is rare and listed in the Red Book.

Popular names for lily of the valley: lily of the valley, lily of the valley, May lily, forest bell, May lily, field lily, convalia, smoothness, raven, rejuvenator, forest tongue, meadow cuttle, dog tongue, Mayevka, hare salt, hare ears, doe ear, shirt, young.

The origin of the word "lily of the valley".

This plant received its scientific definition, borrowed from the Latin language, thanks to the works of the famous botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. Since this flower was previously attributed to the genus Liliaceae, the scientist assigned it the Latin name "Lilium convallium", which in translation sounds like "lily growing in the valley."

Despite the fact that the word "lily of the valley" entered the dictionary of the Russian language in the 17th century, there is still no consensus on its etymology. Some scientists believe that it came from Polish, in which the flower is called "lanuszka" because of the resemblance of its elongated leaves with a pointed tip to the ears of a shy fallow deer. Others attribute the origin of the name, made up of the two words "incense" and "breathe", to the magnificent smell of its fragrant flowers. The last group of researchers is of the opinion that the whole thing is in the completely smooth leaves of the plant, and its definition is a modified word "smooth".

Lily of the valley - description, appearance, structure, characteristics.

Lilies of the valley are perennial herbaceous plants that have a horizontal, well-developed and branched root system with numerous, shallow, thin roots. The root system of the lily of the valley is fibrous, with elongated internodes. In the nodes of the rhizome are scaly leaves, from the axillary buds of which new roots develop.

From the vertical rhizome of the lily of the valley grow 3-5 lower scaly leaves small size with closed tubular sheaths. They are usually brown, dark purple or light green in color. For the most part, grassroots leaves are hidden in the ground. Also, 2 (sometimes 3) basal leaves grow from the top of the rhizome, having an oval-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical shape. Lily of the valley leaves are large, smooth, juicy green in color, slightly pointed at the tops, have arcuate venation. Between the leaves at the top of the rhizome, one large bud is hidden, from which a single bud grows. stem lily of the valley height from 15 to 30 centimeters (although garden lilies of the valley can be up to 50 cm high). The peduncle does not have leaves, although there are some specimens that have filiform leaves under the inflorescences.

Vertical rhizomes of lily of the valley form leaves every year, and lilies of the valley bloom every 2-3 years. The first time lilies of the valley bloom at 7 years. At 10-12 years old, plants lose the ability to form a peduncle. Over the years, horizontal rhizomes rot, and their system breaks up into separate individuals.

Above the middle of the grassy stalk of the lily of the valley, in early May, a fragrant brush begins to form, which includes from 6 to 20 drooping flowers. The long curved pedicels of the lily of the valley have membranous bracts. The stem itself is twisted spirally, so the flowers look in the same direction, even though the pedicels extend from different sides of the triangular flower arrow. six-toothed perianth lily of the valley, painted in snow-white or pale pink, resembles in appearance miniature bell with 6 short thick stamens, at the end of which are oblong yellow anthers. The style is short, with a small tripartite stigma. The tops of the perianth segments are tightly pressed to each other, in a blossoming flower they are slightly bent, when flowering they are bent very strongly. Flowers lilies of the valley do not have nectaries and attract insects (bees, wasps, bumblebees) with a strong aroma and pollen. In the absence of insects, self-pollination can occur.

When do lilies of the valley bloom?

flowering period lily of the valley is quite short and lasts only 15-20 days. The lower flowers open before the upper ones. The start time of flowering depends on the ambient temperature. Usually lilies of the valley begin to bloom in spring in early to mid-May and finish flowering in mid-June. By this time, the inflorescences, 4 to 9 millimeters long and 3 to 7 millimeters wide, begin to darken. Soon an ovary appears in each flower, from which an orange-red berry develops. Fetus lily of the valley with a diameter of 6 to 8 millimeters has an almost round shape and a three-chamber structure. Each chamber contains 1 to 2 spherical seeds. The formation of berries ends by the beginning of July. Ripe fruits can stay on the plant for a very long time. They are included in the diet of chipmunks and birds, although for humans and many animals, all parts of the lily of the valley are very poisonous.

The smell of lilies of the valley.

The smell of forest lily of the valley is fresh, slightly tart, has a slightly cool and very gentle note. Sometimes it is a bit like the smell of jasmine, mixed with amber of wet wood. The delicate aroma of lily of the valley flowers is often used by perfumers around the world to create exquisite perfumes.

Under natural conditions, lilies of the valley grow in all European countries: in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, France, Austria. You can meet this plant in the meadows and mountain slopes of China, the countries of Asia Minor, Japan and part of the territory of the United States of America. The distribution area of ​​these flowers includes Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

In Russia, lily of the valley grows in its European part, in the mountainous territory of the Crimea, in Transbaikalia, in Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in the Amur Region and Primorsky Territory, in the Far East and in Siberia.

The most suitable for flower growth are not only deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests, where lilies of the valley grow on the edges or clearings, but also meadows located in river floodplains and on mountain slopes. Due to uncontrolled and sometimes predatory collection, lilies of the valley are currently listed in the Red Book.

Types of lilies of the valley, photos and names.

Many researchers believe that the genus Convallaria is monotypic, that is, it consists of one species (May lily of the valley). However, in some classifications, species are distinguished that differ somewhat from the main one in morphological features that are caused by the geographical isolation of plants. Below is a description of the varieties of lilies of the valley.

• May lily of the valley(lat. Convallaria majalis) grows in Spain and Portugal, Italy and Greece, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and other European countries. Its distribution area includes most of the territory of Russia, as well as the countries of the Caucasus. In wild nature May lily of the valley found in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, as well as on the edges. The root system of a perennial plant is branched and consists of a large number of small and thin roots, spreading shallowly under the soil surface. Two or three basal leaflets have the shape of an oblong ellipse with a pointed apex. The stem of the May lily of the valley reaches a maximum of 30 centimeters in height. The inflorescence consists of medium-sized flowers hanging on a long pedicel, resembling a spherical bell in shape, the bottom of which is cut by six teeth bent outwards. The number of small white or light pink fragrant flowers included in the inflorescence can reach 20 pieces.

• Lily of the valley Keizke(lily of the valley Keiske, Far Eastern lily of the valley) (lat. Convallaria keiskei) grows in both light deciduous and coniferous forests with abundant moss litter, in places of abandoned clearings, as well as in meadows located in floodplains of rivers. The plant is found in Russia on the territory of Transbaikalia, as well as in the zone of endless taiga expanses of the Far East and Primorye, on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in Northern China and Japan. Some scientists consider Keizke's lily of the valley to be a subspecies of the May lily of the valley. The plant has a long branched rhizome. The lower leaves of the Keizke lily of the valley are scaly and colored brown or purple. The height of the stem can reach 18 centimeters, and the length of the basal leaves is no more than 14 cm. The flowers can reach one centimeter in diameter, their number in the inflorescence ranges from 3 to 10. The bottom of the petals is ovate-triangular.

• mountain lily of the valley(lat. Convallaria montana) is common in North America, where it is found only in the mid-mountain belt of several states: Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, as well as in Virginia and West Virginia. Many scientists believe that the mountain lily of the valley is a subspecies of the May. This is a plant with a well-developed root system and a low stem. Basal leaves of a lanceolate form have a length of up to 35 centimeters and a width of not more than 5 centimeters. The inflorescence of the mountain lily of the valley includes from 5 to 15 broadly bell-shaped flowers, the length of which does not exceed 8 millimeters. Closer to autumn, reddish-orange berries with a diameter of no more than 9 millimeters ripen on the plant, which are three-chambered fruits, which contain several round seeds.

Lily of the valley varieties, photos and names.

Since the 15th century, gardeners, inspired by the aroma of lilies of the valley, have cultivated this plant and bred a huge number of garden varieties. Among them the most interesting are:

• Albostriata- a variety of lily of the valley, which, even after the end of the flowering period, pleases the eye of flower growers thanks to decorative strips of creamy white color covering the surface of the leaf plate.

• Aurea- a variety of lily of the valley with yellow leaves.

• Aureovariegata- lily of the valley with leaves that are covered with longitudinal yellow stripes.

• Flore Plena(Flore Pleino) is a lily of the valley with unusual white inflorescences, which consist of 10-12 rather large double flowers. Plant height 15-25 cm.

• Grandiflora- lily of the valley with large white flowers and large green leaves. Has a very pleasant aroma.

• Green Tapestry- a variety of lily of the valley with variegated leaves of yellow-green color.

• Hofheim- a variety of lily of the valley, the leaves of which have a beige border. The flowers are white.
• prolificans - undersized variety lily of the valley with numerous double flowers of white color. It blooms for a long time and spreads a wonderful aroma.

• Rosea- a variety of lilies of the valley, known for its flowers, painted in soft pink tones. Up to 14 small flowers grow on one brush.

• Victor Ivanovich- a very tall lily of the valley. Its height reaches 50 cm. On the inflorescence there are from 9 to 19 large white flowers. It blooms for about 20 days, and then pleases gardeners with bright red fruits.

Properties of lily of the valley, benefits and applications in medicine.

Lily of the valley is a medicinal plant whose beneficial properties have been known since ancient times. All aerial parts of the plant (stems, leaves, flowers) are used as medicinal raw materials, which are collected during the period of abundant flowering.

Preparations made from lily of the valley are used as choleretic agents, as well as for the treatment of cholecystitis and the removal of inflammatory processes that occur in the bile ducts of the liver. Lily of the valley drops are used to treat heart failure and poor circulation. With the help of preparations based on lily of the valley, they treat or alleviate the course of many diseases:

• neurosis and insomnia;
• high blood pressure (hypertension);
• headaches;
• some eye diseases;
• rheumatic conditions and atherosclerosis;
• fever;
• swelling;
• certain types of allergies.

Contraindications for taking drugs based on lily of the valley.

Despite the useful properties, the use of products made from parts of the lily of the valley should be done very carefully. Lily of the valley preparations have contraindications:

• sharp or chronic diseases liver/kidney;
• cardiosclerosis, endocarditis, myocarditis;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• pronounced organic changes in the cardiovascular system;
• myocardial infarction;
• angina;
• ventricular tachycardia;
• allergy;
• pregnancy;
• children's age (use with caution).

In any case, before taking medicines from lily of the valley, you should consult your doctor.

Lily of the valley harm, poisoning and symptoms.

Lily of the valley flowers have a very strong fragrance that can lead to headaches. That is why it is desirable to regularly ventilate the room in which there are flowers.

It should also be remembered that lily of the valley is poisonous plant. Lily of the valley berries (fruits) are especially poisonous. So take medical preparations and tinctures should only be prescribed by a doctor, while strictly observing the dose. Symptoms of lily of the valley poisoning:

• dizziness and headache;
• severe nausea, which is soon replaced by continuous vomiting;
• drowsiness and general weakness;
• decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), up to cardiac arrest;
• convulsions;
• flickering before the eyes;
• loss of consciousness.

If such symptoms are observed, immediate resuscitation measures should be taken. Otherwise, death may occur.

To save the life of a person who has been poisoned by drugs made from lily of the valley, you must immediately call an emergency ambulance. While the team of doctors is on the way, you should:

• using a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or plain boiled water, rinse the affected stomach, causing a gag reflex;
• help the victim take any sorbent drug, which is suitable for activated charcoal, enterosgel, polysorb or sorbex;
• put a cleansing enema, achieving a reverse exit of clean water.

Lily of the valley - cultivation and care.

Lighting.

Lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant that is not demanding on natural conditions, is not afraid of frost, but does not tolerate drafts. It is comfortable for him to grow and bloom in a small shade of trees, shrubs, but if the shading is strong, then the lily of the valley may stop blooming.

How to grow lilies of the valley from seeds and vegetatively.

Wild lilies of the valley can reproduce by seeds from ripe berries, and the root system can grow to almost 25 cm during the year. Despite this, lily of the valley is a rather rare plant that is listed in the Red Book.

Garden, artificially bred forms of lilies of the valley come to the rescue of flower growers. Their only drawback is their lower frost resistance. Breeding species are also bred by sowing seeds in the ground, but more often they resort to the vegetative method - using rhizomes. In the first case, the plant can bloom only after 6 years, in the second - in the third year.

Growing lilies of the valley from seeds is quite easy. Lily of the valley seeds are sown at the very beginning of autumn, then by spring they will already germinate. You can sow them in the middle or late spring.

For vegetative propagation lily of the valley as planting material use small pieces of rhizome with buds and roots. The diameter of the sprouts, the presence of a flower bud or leaf buds in them depend on the age of the root system. If the root in cross section exceeds 6 mm and has a rounded top, then flowering can be expected in the first year. If its diameter is smaller and the tip is sharp, only leaves will grow in the first year. Separation of the root system can be done both in autumn and in spring time. When working with planting material, you need to wear gloves, as the plant is poisonous.

The soil.

Lilies of the valley prefer well-drained, neutral to low acidity loamy soil rich in organic compounds. The place where these flowers will grow must be prepared in advance. The depth of soil cultivation should be at least 30 cm. In the spring, the selected area should be dug up, adding the following substances and fertilizers to the soil per 1 m²:

• 200-300 g of lime;
• about 10 kg of humus;
• 40 g of potassium sulfate, as well as 100 g of superphosphate.

During the summer, you need to ensure that this area is not overgrown with weeds.

Planting lily of the valley in autumn.

Experienced gardeners consider the beginning and middle of autumn to be the best period for planting planting material. Before planting cuttings, the soil is loosened, rows 15 cm deep are made at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. Lilies of the valley are planted at an interval of about 10 cm, trying not to bend the roots. The sprouts are sprinkled with soil only 1-2 cm. Immediately after planting, the site should be well watered. When the first frost occurs, it is advisable to cover the plot with young plants with mulch. This will help preserve the lilies of the valley if the winter is not snowy.

Planting lilies of the valley in spring.

Planting material can be planted in the spring, but such plants will be painful and will not bloom this season. Land for lilies of the valley should be prepared in the fall. To in open ground young shoots took root more easily and did not suffer from sudden changes in spring temperatures, rapid drying of the soil, as well as from weeds, lily of the valley beds should be mulched. They are covered thin layer humus or crumbs from peat, and at night - also with a film to protect against frost.

Lily of the valley care.

lilies of the valley special care do not require, but still you need to make sure that in hot weather the earth under the flowers does not dry out, otherwise they will bloom weakly. After watering, the soil should be loosened, and weeds should be removed as needed.

Lilies of the valley grow very quickly, crowding out others flower crops. In order to "keep" the plant within the flower bed, it is necessary to dig a barrier along its perimeter, deepening it by almost half a meter. In one place, these flowers can grow from 5 to 10 years. In prefabricated bouquets, they also behave quite aggressively, which leads to the rapid withering of other flowers.

Fertilizers.

The first application of well-rotted organic matter can be done as early as 30 days after planting the lily of the valley. Mineral fertilizers cannot be used at this time. To improve the decorative effect, lilies of the valley in the second and third years of life are fed with organic fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. This procedure is carried out in the middle of spring, introducing from 50 to 70 grams of top dressing per 1 m². Another top dressing can be done in June, when the laying begins. flower buds. The end result will be lilies of the valley with larger flowers.

Diseases of the lily of the valley.

Sometimes lilies of the valley strike gray rot, especially with severe waterlogging and a large thickening of the plot. You can get rid of the disease with the help of fungicides.

If the lily of the valley is affected nematode, then it should be immediately removed and burned.

Distillation of lilies of the valley.

Wild lilies of the valley do not tolerate experiments, and garden species (especially large-flowered ones) are often used for forcing.

Distillation is a widely used agricultural technique in floriculture that is used to ensure that plants bloom in the off-season for them.

Planting material for this is prepared in the middle and end of autumn. Pieces are cut from the upper part of the excavated lily of the valley root, in which large rounded apical buds are clearly visible. You should not cut cuttings longer than 5 cm. You can store them in a frost-free basement or cellar, in boxes, in an upright position, sprinkled with sand and covered with a frame. When frost intensifies, additional shelter is made of straw. Optimum temperature storage must be at least +1°C.

Before the early (December) forcing, lily of the valley sprouts are subjected to heat treatment. To do this, they are wrapped in wet moss and film, then sent for 21 days to a cold place with a temperature of -2 ° C. After "freezing", allowing them to move away slightly, "warm up" for 12 hours in a bath, the water temperature of which should be about 30 ° C.

Lily of the valley sprouts are planted in containers with previously prepared, loose and enriched with organic soil, laid in a layer of 3 to 5 cm. The sprouts must be carefully laid on the bottom, sprinkled with the rest of the soil on top and slightly leveled. The kidney tops should peek out of the ground by about 0.5 cm. Depending on the size, from 6 to 12 lilies of the valley can be planted in a container. Seedlings are well spilled with warm water, and then, to preserve required humidity, cover with moss or a layer of peat. Containers are sent for 10-12 days to a dark room, where the air temperature is maintained at 26-28°C and the soil temperature is about 21°C. Several times a day (2-3 times) it is necessary to spray lily of the valley seedlings with warm water (about 30 ° C) and ventilate for at least half an hour.

From the moment of germination of lilies of the valley, the containers are returned to a bright room and the covering material is removed. The soil continues to be kept moist, the temperature is kept within 30 ° C, but the plantings are sprayed less often, and aired more often. As soon as the lowest bell of the inflorescence is colored, the lilies of the valley stop watering, and the temperature is lowered to 16-18 ° C. With early forcing, flowering plants are obtained already on the 22-24th day from the moment of planting the sprouts.

For late distillation in the second half of January, warm baths are no longer made for sprouts. Otherwise, all the forces of the plant will go into the development of leaves, and flowering will be weak. Lilies of the valley, as in the first case, are planted in containers with ready-made soil or in greenhouses, where the air temperature is maintained at least 25 ° C. In February, it can be reduced by another 3-5 degrees. So that the flower stalks do not stretch very much, the darkening time is reduced, and on fine days the seedlings are shaded. All other steps used for late forcing are the same as those used for December forcing.

It should be remembered that a plant obtained by forcing does not form a new root system, therefore, after withering, it is not used for planting in the ground.

• A huge number of myths, fairy tales, legends are known about the lily of the valley. One of them explains why green lily of the valley berries turn orange or red at the end of summer. The flower grieved very much, mourning the departed spring. Little green "tears" rolled from his eyes. At the end of the summer, his "heart" could not stand it, and blood gushed out of him, coloring his "tears".
• In one of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Snow White's necklace crumbled when she ran away from her evil stepmother. The beads that fell on the grass turned into fragrant snow-white inflorescences of lily of the valley. The gnomes used these flowers as lanterns, and at night they served as a shelter for cheerful sunbeams.
• In myths ancient rome a story is mentioned that once happened to the beautiful goddess Diana. Carried away by the pursuit of game, she found herself in an unfamiliar forest. The fauns living there tried to catch her. From a fast and long run, fragrant droplets of sweat appeared on the body of the goddess, which, touching the ground, immediately turned into fragrant flowers.
• The British have their own history of the appearance of this plant. These are drops of the blood of St. Leonard, the patron saint of forests, fields and meadows, who fought with an evil dragon. Therefore, in England, lilies of the valley symbolize holiness and purity.
• Since the middle of the 16th century, every Sunday at the very beginning of spring, the French have been celebrating "Lily of the Valley Day". People give each other small real or embroidered bouquets, exchange souvenirs and postcards with the image or symbols of these flowers.
• The Dutch believe that if lilies of the valley are planted in the garden or in the house of the newlyweds, then their love will not fade away, but will bloom again and again in the spring.
• Few people know that the famous astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus was also an excellent doctor. Therefore, in many ancient portraits, artists depicted him holding a bunch of snow-white lilies of the valley in his hands, which is a symbol of a skilled healer.

April 7, 2016

Modestly drooping white balls of flowers with a bewitching scent… The shy nature makes the lily of the valley hide in the dense foliage, but the scent will surely give away the secretive plant. Lily of the valley flowers cannot be called luxurious - small, light bells. Another thing is wide juicy leaves! Outwardly similar to the host, and also favorably refer to shady areas. But not the foliage, namely the blooming lily of the valley leaves no one indifferent. If you too love these delicate plants, try planting them in your garden.

Having started reading this article, you have probably already sung the famous song “Lilies of the valley, lilies of the valley of bright May hello…” to yourself. A simple and catchy melody and light text made the song incredibly popular in the late 50s of the last century. True, for some time "Lilies of the Valley" was scolded for vulgarity and anti-Sovietism, although half a century has passed, and everyone knows the song. Everything ingenious is simple, it’s not for nothing that “Lilies of the Valley” sing on different languages and even in Japanese. Listen:

Without affecting the artistic value of the song (Russian, of course), let's take up its content. No, we will not “dissect the classics”, but simply state a fact - only residents of the warm regions of the country can rightfully call the spring May flower a lily of the valley. In the central part of Russia, lilies of the valley appear in June, well, maybe at the end of May, if the spring turned out to be hot. We can give primroses, coltsfoot or garden bulbs in spring days, but you still need to wait for lilies of the valley.

The easiest and most inexpensive way to plant lilies of the valley in your garden is to bring a delenka from the forest. This can be done in spring or autumn. The plant reproduces well by seeds, but the delenka will bloom faster.

When you go to the forest for lilies of the valley, be sure to take gloves and work only in them. And the roots, and flowers, and foliage, and berries are poisonous!

Put on gloves, dig up a bush you like and check that it has a piece of rhizome and small roots, as well as a bud, which will then turn into fragrant flower. Just do not cry and lament that lilies of the valley are listed in the Red Book. You will not dig up a lily-of-the-valley meadow or dig a foundation pit in this place, but take only two or three bushes. In addition, you have a noble goal - you will plant these babies, you will look after them, and soon the flowers will grow.

Lilies of the valley will be grateful if you plant them near trees or near bushes, where they get enough light, and at the same time they are protected from the midday sun and overheating of the soil. It’s good if the land on your site is loose, saturated nutrients, neutral in acidity.

By the way, when choosing a place for lilies of the valley, think about whether a place along the fence is suitable for them? .. In the Kuban, it is believed that this plant can take away people with evil thoughts from home. Maybe superstition, but the flowers on both sides of the fence are really planted.

If you are planning to make a lily of the valley flower garden, then, no matter how much you want, do not plant flowers too close to each other. The optimal distance between the bushes is 20 centimeters. Your endurance and patience will give a wonderful result, because lilies of the valley grow very well, and in a dense planting they will be cramped, the flowers will be crushed or disappear altogether. And let the foliage look beautiful, are you waiting for fragrant flowers?

Lilies of the valley love moisture, so it is very important to water them regularly, especially in the first half of summer. With a lack of water, there is a danger that the flowers will become smaller. The plant also does not like wetlands, but requires harmony ...

With outward modesty and tenderness, the cunning lily of the valley belongs to aggressor plants. AT favorable conditions it will actively grow, capturing territories suitable for life. Experienced gardeners recommend thinning out plantings of lilies of the valley at least once every three years. Be careful with him and do not succumb to the charm of the bells inclined to the ground! And don't forget about its poisonousness!

Types and varieties of lilies of the valley

The question of the types of lilies of the valley is not simple. In specialized literature, the only species is sometimes called May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), and sometimes add two more - Keizke's lily of the valley (Convallaria keiskei) and mountain lily of the valley (Convallaria montana). These types or varieties of lily of the valley are distinguished by geography. The May lily of the valley is found in Europe, the mountain lily in North America, and the Keizke lily of the valley can be found in the Far East. And in the Caucasian forests you can find Transcaucasian lily of the valley (Convallaria transcaucasica)…

What are their differences? May lily of the valley is a low forest plant with white flowers. Compared to May, Keizke (or Keiske) lily of the valley blooms later and has larger flowers. The bells of the mountain lily of the valley are slightly longer, and the leaves are larger than those of the May lily of the valley. Transcaucasian lily of the valley is distinguished by large and wide flowers.

The differences are minimal, it is difficult to understand all the subtleties, and amateur gardeners do not need it. There is no point in botanical disputes and debates if there is no practical benefit from them. Is the plant beautiful? Is care clear? What then to argue about, if planting (weeding, watering, etc.) is necessary ?!

Among garden forms lily of the valley you can find bright and unusual varieties that only with their aroma resemble a modest forest flower. The foliage can be green, yellow, striped and speckled, and the flowers can be pink, cream, double. What would you say if you meet such an instance:

Yes, this is a lily of the valley with white double flowers! The variety of this handsome man is called ‘Flore Plena’ (the spelling ‘Flore Pleno’ is found). Plant height is from 15 to 25 centimeters. The snow-white bells are so large that they seem to be fused, but in fact they have a double corolla.

It is impossible to pass by pink lilies of the valley ‘Rosea’. Gentle saturated color appeared as a result of the painstaking work of breeders to cross the lily of the valley and the red tulip. This spectacular, winter-hardy, non-aggressive lily of the valley has a very pleasant smell, although its aroma is lighter than that of May. But the number of flowers on one brush is much larger - up to 14 pieces, while Convallaria majalis has no more than 6-8 light droplets-bells.

In height, the pink handsome man can reach 20-30 centimeters. To preserve the unusual color, it is better to plant the plant in partial shade, the bright sun can discolor the blush. Also, do not plant white lilies of the valley next to ‘Rosea’, which can oppress pink neighbors.

Variegated leaves increase the value of varietal lilies of the valley in the eyes of gardeners, because the flowering period does not last very long, and unusual foliage adorns the site all season. The ‘Albostriata’ variety is surprisingly beautiful: light cream stripes run along the leaves in even parallels.

It is better to place lily of the valley ‘Albostriata’ in a bright place to maintain a contrasting pattern. The grower will have to monitor the emergence of new shoots, because sometimes the plant can grow with ordinary green foliage. In this case, it is necessary to carefully remove the violator of beauty along with a piece of root.

It looks like this variety ‘Vic Pawlowski’s Gold’, but the veins on its leaves have a golden hue, the light stripes are wider and they are more common on a green background.

May lily of the valley ‘Vic Pawlowski’s Gold’

With strong shade, the leaves may lose their decorative effect and become completely green, so choose a bright place with reasonable shade. Both striped varieties of lily of the valley cannot be classified as aggressors, as they grow slowly.

Another variegated variety ‘Aureovariegata’ (also ‘Variegata’) is valued not only for yellowish stripes on wide leaves, but also for abundant flowering - there are up to 15 white flowers in a large fragrant brush. In dense shade, the lily of the valley will bloom weakly, although such behavior can be forgiven for beautiful foliage.

In height ‘Aureovariegata’ grows up to 20 centimeters, in width - up to 25, the variety does not require careful care and grows rapidly.

The foliage of the ‘Green Tapestry’ variety is covered with light spots and stripes. This is not a viral disease and not the consequences of heat, but a decorative feature of this form of lily of the valley. The plant is absolutely healthy and simply pleases the owner with its unusual appearance.

Some varieties of lilies of the valley have green leaves with a light border around the edge. An uneven, cream-colored wide border adorns the foliage of the 'Hofheim' lily of the valley; in the 'Hardwick Hall' variety, the border is golden.

The beautiful golden yellow color of the foliage of some varieties of lilies of the valley will help lighten the dark corners of the garden. A little sun will add to shady places funny company from lilies of the valley ‘Golden Jubilee’ or ‘Aurea’.

The large-flowered variety ‘Grandiflora’ has simple green foliage, but this lily of the valley can hardly be called modest. In all its glory, it appears during the flowering period: radiant white large flowers on strong tall stems will not go unnoticed!

Lily of the valley ‘Grandiflora’ is excellent for cutting. Another variety will also look good in a vase - ‘Dorien’ (the spelling ‘Doreen’ is found). Tall, with large flowers and wide leaves, this lily of the valley can grow up to 30 centimeters in height.

Another garden giant is ‘Fortins Giant’. This French variety is distinguished not only by its impressive size, but also by its strong aroma. A bouquet of lilies of the valley ‘Fortins Giant’ will be incredibly spectacular!

Short kids are also ready to surprise potential owners - pay attention to the variety ‘Prolificans’. This is a low-growing form that captivates gardeners with voluminous flowers (the secret of splendor is that several flowers are located on one peduncle at once), strong aroma and long flowering.

Lilies of the valley in garden design

Lily of the valley is a real find for shady garden landscape style. For planting, it is worth choosing low varieties of the May lily of the valley, tall plants will look too pretentious.

Lilies of the valley planted along the path look beautiful. In order for such a border to remain neat, it is necessary to make an additional fence of stones or dig in plates, otherwise the flowers will grow strongly and you will be left without a path!

A lonely lily of the valley in the garden is a rarity. Even tall varieties suitable for cutting feel (and look) better in group plantings. find good neighbors for lily of the valley is necessary for two reasons: the first - the leaves appear quite late, and empty seats needs to be decorated; the second - by the end of summer, juicy green foliage loses its beauty.

Lilies of the valley are not the friendliest flowers, a dense network of rhizomes is ready to displace any competitors from the territory. For this reason, for compositions with lilies of the valley, it is better to take plants with shallow roots or ground coversthat give a mustache or propagate by rooting shoots.

An advantageous neighborhood can be obtained with hosts, forget-me-nots, Veronica. A good addition to the white lily of the valley will be pale blue brunner flowers. Both plants are shade-loving, so dark areas of the garden will become noticeably lighter.

If the shadow on the site is not very deep, then you can plant a watershed to the lilies of the valley. A good company will turn out from lilies of the valley with a yasnotka, a spring umbilical cord, and also with a creeping tenacious.

A win-win option for a shady garden is to plant ferns for lilies of the valley. So you will play on the contrast of foliage: a combination of smooth glossy and openwork leaves will give the site an interesting look, and the decorative effect will remain even after the lilies of the valley have faded.

A good way to diversify thickets of lilies of the valley (if you have already acquired them) is to put containers with bright plants on this picturesque clearing. So after the end of flowering, you can dilute the green monotony with cheerful spots.

For those who like to combine different plants in flower beds and cannot imagine their future masterpiece without lilies of the valley, we recommend choosing slowly growing varieties. This will allow plants to coexist comfortably in a small area.

The smell of lilies of the valley

Some gardeners who have forest lilies of the valley in their plots have mixed feelings: “It grows like a weed, but the smell is noble ...” The aggressive behavior and quarrelsomeness of flowers is easy to forgive for their incomparable aroma. A huge number of perfumers have been inspired by this discreet delicate flower.

For many Russian women, lily of the valley perfume is associated with the once popular Flowers of Russia series, and older ladies may remember the Forest Lily of the Valley or even Silver Lily of the Valley perfume. These fragrances were not considered luxurious (a French perfume was ideal), but the bottle smelled of real lily of the valley. The scent was said to be soothing and help relieve headache. The result can and was, however, to help in this case, probably, only a real lily of the valley or its tincture could help. The fact is that in perfumery, fragrance is obtained exclusively with the help of synthetic compounds, since essential oil cannot be obtained from lily of the valley ...

Not only perfumers are trying to repeat the smell of delicate flowers - breeders and variety testers are also working to give the smell of lily of the valley to other flowers. For example, peonies with a lily-of-the-valley aroma have already been bred (varieties ‘Le Signe’, ‘Duchess de Nemours’, ‘Excelsa’).

Do you love lilies of the valley? We have not talked about all the existing varieties in this article. If unusual forms of lily of the valley grow in your garden, tell us about them, send a photo flowering plant, and the article will certainly be supplemented. We are waiting for your letters and photos by e-mail!

Delicate lilies of the valley have long been considered a symbol of spring. In May, wonderful flowers appear in the forests, resembling scatterings of snow-white pearls - lilies of the valley. They grow on the edges of a mixed forest, forming whole carpets of thickets. They are not only perfect for their beauty, but also have a dizzying aroma of spring.

This most beautiful May flower managed to win the hearts of many peoples, thanks to its bells with a delicate aroma. The broad green leaves resemble the ears of deer, which is probably where the name "landushka" comes from. This, translated from the old Polish language, means the ear of a fallow deer.

It is also believed that the name comes from the church incense incense. When burned, it releases an aroma reminiscent of the aroma of lily of the valley.

This is a perennial herbaceous plant that propagates with the help of a root. Its roots are not thick and creeping. Leaves in the amount of two pieces grow from the rosette and have the shape of a deer ear. Between them is a bud, from which a sprout grows and bells are formed, and then berries.

The stems are erect and die back in early summer as soon as the flowers stop blooming. On one stem, there are an average of 14 bells with a delicate aroma. The color of the bells varies from white to pale pink. Lilies of the valley are very strong flowers that easily conquer new shady territories. He is not afraid of temperature fluctuations. The flowering stem itself is leafless.

Lily of the valley blooms in May and continues to delight the world around for about a month. After flowering, small red berries appear on the stem, which serve as a delicacy for birds living in the neighborhood. The fruit is a round red berry about 7 mm in diameter, filled with round seeds.

On the flowerbeds, a carpet of lily of the valley leaves looks great, but when this carpet is covered with white flowers, it seems that fairies live in some bluebells.

Exist different kinds lilies of the valley growing within Russia:

1. Transcaucasian.
2. May.
3. Keyskey.
4. Silver.
5. Pink.

All this variety is vigorously used in medicine. Lilies of the valley quickly spread throughout Europe and won the hearts of people so much that people not only collected bouquets, but also used it in the treatment of heart and other diseases. Deforestation also led to the disappearance of flowers, and in fact the flower does not grow in the bright sun.

Lilies of the valley began to disappear from the surrounding forests, and were soon listed in the Red Book. There is such a belief that if you pick one flower from a common blooming carpet, then after some time all the others will disappear.

In order not to cut lily of the valley flowers in the forest every year, people began to grow them in their flower beds. After all, this does not require any main move, the main thing is not to dig this area. The whole secret is to choose a suitable area in the flower garden.

The best place is in the shade of trees with slightly damp soil. Pledge long flowering lilies of the valley are coolness and shade.

After a couple of years, the roots will spread so that this place will no longer be enough for flowers, and it will claim new territory.

The plant lives in one place for about 10 years, so you need to prepare a mail rich in organic matter. To do this, it is necessary to fertilize with already rotted manure and dig a flower bed to a depth of 25 cm. In such good conditions the plant will live for a very long time. After that, planting rhizomes will need to be updated so as not to lose the flower. Soil preparation should be carried out a year before transplanting lily of the valley rhizomes.

It is best to plant in September or April so that it takes root well. It is not advisable to engage in transplantation in the summer, since during the heat it can die. After planting, the rhizome should be watered intensively until the plant takes root.

There are two options for breeding lily of the valley:

1. seed method;
2. root method.

The second way to grow faster and more convenient. To do this, the rhizome is dug up and cut into pieces about 10 cm long. The main thing is that there should be a growth bud on this segment. Fold the cut pieces of rhizomes into pre-dug grooves to a depth of about 3 cm and dig in with earth without trampling it.

Do not plant sprouts too close to each other at the very beginning, because due to the density, new shoots can be affected by gray rot.

When propagated by seeds, sprouts will appear only in the second year, if the seeds are not collected by birds or mice. It will be tightly tied leaves and no flowering. In the second spring, the rhizome will grow and only in the third year will flowers appear.

Caring for lilies of the valley is quite simple. In the summer heat, they are watered, not allowing the earth to dry out. The plant is frost-resistant and therefore it should not be covered additionally. It coexists well in flowerbeds with lungwort and ferns.

Diseases and pests

Lily of the valley can be affected by fungal diseases. It can also be exposed to nematodes and sawflies. Remove diseased plants from the flower bed and burn them not in your own area. Treat the remaining plants with special preparations sold in garden centers.

Lily of the valley is also known as a distillation plant. In order to expel the plant, in September, the rhizomes are dug up and put into storage, put in a box and sprinkled with peat. It should be stored in a cool place at a temperature of -3 to +5 degrees.

In early December, they are planted in boxes or pots in pre-prepared loose, fertile soil. The bowls with planted rhizomes are placed in a room with a temperature of up to 24 degrees Celsius and watered a little. A month later, the lily of the valley begins to sprout, and in February it begins to bloom.

Lilies of the valley - medicinal properties

Since the time of Copernicus, lily of the valley has been considered an excellent medicinal plant, and thanks to this it has become a symbol of healing.

Do not forget that lilies of the valley is a medicinal plant that helps people get rid of diseases such as:

• diseases of the nervous system;
• arrhythmias;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• fever;
• physical stress;
• rheumatism;
• headache.

People with diseases of the stomach, kidneys and liver should not take extracts from this medicinal plant. For them, it will be tantamount to taking poison. After all, a beautiful flower with an unforgettable aroma for a person can be poisonous. Therefore, it is impossible to make decoctions without doctor's prescriptions in any case.

If you need to collect this plant, then this cannot be done within the city limits. Since due to gasoline vapors and other chemical substances the plant will not be suitable for medicinal use. Therefore, these plants are collected in forests remote from megacities.

Harvest this plant during flowering, cutting off with scissors near the rhizome, so as not to damage it. For medicinal purposes, everything is collected: leaves, flowers, and berries. All this is collected in May, early summer, while the lilies of the valley are in bloom and the leaves are in the juice itself.

Drying is done in the shade with good ventilation. Drying is also carried out in special drying cabinets, where the temperature is set to 60 degrees. Medicines can also be prepared from only plucked lily of the valley flowers.

Lily of the valley tincture

We fill any container by three quarters with plucked flowers and top up with 90% alcohol. All this is infused in a dark cool place for 3 weeks. Take 20 drops five times a day.

Lily of the valley dry flower tincture

1 tbsp dried flowers pour 200 gr. boiling water, wrap and let it brew for half an hour. Take one tablespoon every 2 hours. This drug is excellent for conjunctivitis.

In violation of the heart rhythm

Mix valerian 10 ml, lily of the valley tincture 10 ml, hawthorn extract 5 ml. and menthol 0.05 ml. applied 25 drops three times a day.

Pharmacies also sell drugs made using lily of the valley:

• Zelenin drops;
• various cardiotonic drugs;
• drug "Convaflavin".

But we must remember that the lily of the valley is poisonous and its overdose threatens with poisoning. And when using drugs, you must strictly adhere to the recommendations given by the doctor.

Toning face mask

Grind 2 tablespoons of red berries, add one yolk there. Apply the resulting mask on the face, after 15 minutes it will be necessary to wash it off with warm water and wipe it off with a warm cloth dipped in milk. Making masks weekly, after a month and a half, fine wrinkles will be smoothed out and the complexion will noticeably improve.

• The aroma of lilies of the valley is used in the preparation of perfumes, soaps, shampoos. It is difficult to obtain an extract from flower buds, therefore, for the perfume industry, the smell was removed chemically.
• In Russian legends, lily of the valley flowers are called the tears of the sea princess Volkhova. She, who fell in love with the beautiful harpist Sadko, who did not reciprocate, and therefore, alone at night, shed tears of her lonely love, which by morning turned into wonderful lily of the valley flowers.
• There are also legends that when the first mermaid fell in love, her laughter scattered like white pearls across the clearing near the lake.
• From childhood, many people remember the fairy tale about Snow White, how she, running away from her stepmother, scattered her pearl necklace. And they turned into white lilies of the valley. And now they work as flashlights for little gnomes.
• And also in these bells sunbeams spend the night.
• Wedding bouquets are often made from lilies of the valley - after all, this is a symbol of untouched purity.

In order to enjoy lilies of the valley and escape from everyday difficulties, it is not necessary to go to the forest and pick flowers, breaking their ideal glades. It is better to plant them in your flower garden and admire this miracle of nature every year.

With the help of a bouquet of these flowers, you can always confess your pure love for a person and it would be nice to do this on May 1, because in France this day is celebrated as the day of lily of the valley and spring.

How to pick lilies of the valley and keep the bouquet fresh?

It is recognized by all that lilies of the valley are the most fragrant spring flowers. They are listed in the Red Book. But, finding yourself in the May forest, to be honest, hardly anyone can resist picking a bouquet.

According to experts, lilies of the valley can only be harmed by improper collection of the flower itself. To prevent the plant from dying, you should carefully pull out the flower itself without leaves from its middle and try not to damage the rhizome. Coarse forest clearings, tractor caterpillars and unharvested branches are much more harmful to the spread of this plant, unique in its beauty and aroma.

Lily of the valley tends to grow rapidly, and those gardeners who decide to grow it need to remember this. Within a few years, the plant can fill a significant part of the garden. Now among flower growers, the cultivation of terry and pink lilies of the valley has become widespread. But for most connoisseurs of the plant, a pure, white, porcelain color is closer.

You should know that the fruits of lily of the valley, which appear at the end of summer, are very poisonous. They look attractive, so it is necessary to warn children about the dangers of their use.

A bouquet of lilies of the valley usually fades quickly. In order for it to stand for as long as possible, it is advisable to fill in flowers with unsettled tap water, as is usually advised, but river or lake. You can throw a pinch into the water citric acid. Leaves should not be torn, as this spoils the plant, in addition, in a bouquet they quickly wither, turn yellow and rot.

May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a herbaceous perennial plant up to 30 cm tall; other names: hare ears, raven, mytnaya grass, forest tongue, silversmith. Lily of the valley is an unusually beautiful rhizomatous plant of the lily family (Liliaceae). It is valued primarily for the beauty of small bell-shaped flowers, collected in a drooping racemose inflorescence and with a strong aroma.

lilies of the valley grow

Lilies of the valley grow in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia, as well as in the temperate zones of Eurasia, the Caucasus, the Crimean mountains and North America. Prefers shady or semi-shady areas of coniferous and mixed forests, river floodplains. The most spacious thickets are seen in oak forests and in massifs of pine forests. Soil prefers rich. Lily of the valley is a frost-resistant plant; it does not require winter shelter. Without a transplant, lilies of the valley can grow in one place for up to 10 years. Included in the Red Book: lily of the valley needs preventive protection and rational use.

lily of the valley rhizome

The rhizome is thin, creeping, horizontal, with countless small roots. The maximum age of rhizomes is 42 years.

lily of the valley leaves

The beautiful smooth leaves of the lily of the valley are broadly elliptical in shape, the tip is pointed, painted dark green, shiny, arcuate veins are clearly visible on the leaf blade. The trunk below is surrounded by light pink scales. Leaves basal, on long petioles, at the base with wide membranous sheaths.

lily of the valley flowers

Lily of the valley inflorescences are located on a long thin leafless peduncle. The flowers are small, snow-white, strongly fragrant, collected in a one-sided, slightly drooping loose brush. The corolla of the flower is spherical-campanulate, six-toothed. The color of lily of the valley petals depends on the variety, but most often the petals are white. Lily of the valley flowers are among the first to bloom in spring - from mid-May. Flowering time - up to three weeks. When growing lilies of the valley in dense shade, the number of flowers may be reduced.

Lily of the valley berries

After the end of the flowering period, lily of the valley fruits appear - fleshy, round, three-celled, orange-red berries with light rounded ovoid seeds; ripen in early August - September.

types of lily of the valley

Lily of the valley varieties

In culture, the following varieties are most often found:

Grandiflora - the variety differs from the main species in larger flowers

Rosea - pink lily of the valley

Latifolia - very ornamental variety with double flowers

Variegata is a white lily of the valley, the variety differs from the main species in leaves, against a dark green background of which white longitudinal stripes clearly stand out.

Lily of the valley reproduction

Most often, garden lilies of the valley are propagated vegetatively by segments of rhizomes in spring or autumn. A fresh shoot of the plant blooms in two years, after which there is a break in flowering for a couple of years. The seed method is used much less frequently (lily of the valley seeds are sown in the fall in the ground). Before planting lilies of the valley, the soil should be deeply cultivated and drained. During the active growing season, the soil should be constantly moistened, so watering is necessary in dry spring. Periodic top dressing with organic fertilizers is desirable.

Diseases and pests of lilies of the valley

Lily of the valley can be affected by fungal diseases. Of the pests, sawflies and nematodes are the most annoying.

The use of lilies of the valley

Lilies of the valley in the garden are used for planting in flower beds along with other spring-flowering crops. Despite the apparent fragility, the lily of the valley flower is quite hardy and retains freshness in water for a long time. That is why it is often used for decorating residential premises. The strong aroma of tiny flowers can cause a headache, so the room in which the bouquet of lilies of the valley is located must be regularly ventilated. Lily of the valley is also known as a forcing plant. To distill lilies of the valley, the rhizomes are dug out of the ground in September and stored in boxes with peat or sand in a cool room. In early December, they are planted in pots with a light nutrient substrate. Containers with planted rhizomes are brought into warm room with a temperature of 20-24 degrees and watered. After 1 month, sprouts appear, and in early February, the plants begin to bloom.

Lily of the valley - medicinal plant

Lily of the valley is a medicinal plant used both in folk and traditional medicine. As a strengthening and normalizing agent cardiovascular system, apply a tincture of flowers, leaves and stems (due to the cardiac glycosides present in the lily of the valley - convallotoxin and convalloside). Lily of the valley glycosides are unstable and do not accumulate in the body. Lily of the valley substances are used for heart neuroses, cardiosclerosis, heart defects and heart failure. They are often used in combination with valerian and hawthorn and other medicinal plants.
In folk medicine, lily of the valley is used as a relaxing and diuretic; in diseases of the heart, especially tachycardia, to regulate the heart rhythm; with edema, thyroid diseases, epilepsy, fever, throat diseases; external infusion (in the form of lotions) - for eye diseases, also for rheumatism. In the UK, an aqueous infusion of the aerial part of the lily of the valley is a remedy that strengthens the nervous system, warning infectious diseases, for headaches. Lily of the valley herb is included in the pharmacopoeias of 13 countries of the world.
Powder from flowers is sniffed with a cold. In Germany, an infusion of lily of the valley flowers on wine is considered an effective remedy for paralysis. The flowers are used medicinally in Finland and Switzerland.

Medicinal preparations from lily of the valley

Lily of the valley tincture

Transparent liquid of a greenish-brown color, with a weak peculiar aroma and a bitter taste. Produced in a concentration of 1:10 in 70% alcohol. Assign adults 15-20 drops, children 1-12 drops 2-3 times a day. Produced in dark glass bottles of 25 ml. Store in a place protected from light.

dry lily of the valley concentrate

Brown powder, hygroscopic. When dissolved in water, it gives off a slightly turbid brown-yellow solution. Available in powders and tablets containing 0.1 grams. Take 1 tablet three times a day.

Lily of the valley-valerian drops

Lily of the valley-valerian drops contain lily of the valley tincture and valerian tincture 1:1. Produced in bottles of 30 ml. Shelf life is about two years.

Lily of the valley-valerian drops with adonizide

The drops contain tincture of lily of the valley, valerian and adonizide in a ratio of 1:1:1. Produced in bottles of 30 ml. Shelf life 2 years.

Lily of the valley-valerian drops with sodium bromide

Drops contain 100 ml drops of 8.5% bromide. Shelf life 2 years.

Drops lily of the valley-motherwort

The drops contain lily of the valley tincture and motherwort tincture in equal proportions 1:1. Produced in bottles of 25 ml. Shelf life 1 year.

Lily of the valley-belladonna drops with menthol

The drops contain lily of the valley tincture 20 ml, belladonna tincture 10 ml, menthol 0.2 grams. Shelf life 2 years.

Lily of the valley-belladonna-valerian drops with menthol

The drops contain lily of the valley tincture 10 ml, belladonna tincture 5 ml, valerian tincture 10 ml, menthol 0.2 grams. Shelf life 2 years. The pharmaceutical industry produces a number of cardiac preparations, which include preparations of lily of the valley (convaflavin, convallatoxin, corglicon) and which are widely used in medicine.

Lily of the valley - contraindications

Lily of the valley is a poisonous and extremely dangerous plant, treatment with its products should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, strictly observing the dose.
In toxic doses, lily of the valley causes nausea, vomiting, sudden bradycardia, extrasystoles, ventricular flutter, and cardiac arrest. The use of lily of the valley substances is contraindicated in severe organic changes in the heart and blood vessels, acute myocardium, endocarditis, pronounced cardiosclerosis and acute diseases of the liver and kidneys. Eating lily of the valley berries can cause poisoning, which in children will be accompanied by nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, dilated pupils, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions, drowsiness and sudden weakness. Critical cases are known after drinking water in which lilies of the valley stood. Poisoning of ducks and geese that have pecked at discarded bouquets has been registered. But foxes and other canids can eat lily of the valley berries in large quantities without harm, using them as an anthelmintic.

May lily of the valley is a herbaceous perennial plant, widely distributed in temperate zones. Lily of the valley has medicinal properties. Beautiful and delicate flower, emits a wonderful aroma and decorates any garden. But at the same time, it is a poisonous plant, and it must be handled with care to avoid sad consequences.

Perennial herbaceous plant, grows up to thirty centimeters in height. The roots are located horizontally relative to the surface of the earth. Near their top are several half-open grassroots very pale leaves, which are partially hidden in the soil. The roots of the lily of the valley are fibrous, small.

The plant has short above-ground shoots. After the lower leaves there are wide oblong, so-called basal leaves, between them at the top of the rhizome is a large bud. The number of basal leaves is usually from two to three.

A flower-bearing long stem grows from the very corner of the bottom leaf, which wraps around from below green leaves. On the stem is a brush with delicate white flowers. Their number varies from six to twenty. The entire brush is turned in the same direction. There are usually no leaves on the stem. Plants bloom from May to June. The flowers are bell-shaped, with six teeth. They are attached to the stem with the help of long and curved pedicels.

After the flowering period, fruits are formed. Bright orange round berries. They are up to eight millimeters in diameter. Lily of the valley berries appear in June - early July. They stay on the plant for a very long time.

Lily of the valley flowers can be propagated by rhizomes and seeds. When grown from seeds, plants begin to bloom in the seventh year.

May lily of the valley distribution area

Lily of the valley grows mainly in Europe, Asia, the Caucasus, North America and China. In the Russian Federation, it can be found in the Far East, in the regions of Siberia, as well as in the central European part of the country. The flower prefers to grow in deciduous, pine, and mixed forests. Likes shady areas with well-drained soil. It grows very well, forming whole glades.

The chemical composition of the plant

The chemical composition is very carefully studied. All parts of the flower, including the fruits of the lily of the valley, contain cardiac-type glycosides:

• convallotoxol
• convallotoxin
• convalloside
• vallarotoxin
• convaloxin

It also has:

• essential oil
• asparagine
• citric and malic acids
• saponins, sugar
• flavonoids

Healing properties of May lily of the valley

The May lily of the valley has found its application both in folk and in official medicine. It has the following properties:

• diuretic
• restorative
• soothing
• sedative

Medicines prepared on its basis can regulate the activity of the entire cardiovascular system. They improve blood circulation and improve the functioning of the heart muscle.

Being a good cardio tonic, lily of the valley is used for various heart defects, cardiosclerosis, tachycardia. The plant has a good diuretic effect, normalizes the balance of fluid, preventing its retention in the body, and thus combats the formation of edema.

Helps with neurosis and insomnia, has a calming and sedative effect and is not addictive, so it can be used for a long time.

Relieves vascular spasm in hypertension, which increases blood pressure.

Severe headaches, epilepsy and even paralysis respond well to the influence of drugs based on a medicinal plant. But before starting treatment, you should consult your doctor.

In folk alternative medicine May lily of the valley is successfully used to treat diseases associated with the thyroid gland. The plant contributes to the proper absorption of iodine, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.

Lily of the valley will help reduce high temperatures in case of colds and viral diseases, relieve severe sore throat and have a general strengthening effect on the body.

With rheumatism, extracts from the plant are used as an anesthetic and a means of preventing heart damage.

Preparations prepared on the basis of a medicinal plant are indicated for use in the following diseases:

• cardiosclerosis and cardiac neurosis
• vegetovascular dystonia
• heart failure
• various heart defects
• epilepsy
• headache
• nervous diseases
• fever
• edema
• eye diseases

It should be remembered that the flower is poisonous and any use of it must be under the supervision of a doctor. Its use is contraindicated:

• with pathology of the liver and kidneys
• during pregnancy and lactation
• with allergic reactions
• in childhood

Danger of poisoning

All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans. In pharmaceutical preparations, the concentration of the extract from it is not high and cannot cause significant harm to the body. It is dangerous to eat green shoots and red berries of the plant. This can happen accidentally and be fatal.

1. After the flowering period, the May lily of the valley looks like wild garlic, and when collecting bear's onions, you can accidentally pluck the leaves of the poisonous lily of the valley. Eating them will cause serious poisoning.
2. The red berries of lily of the valley seem to be quite edible and children can suffer from them. The lethal dose for a child is two to three berries. The fruits can get into the crop edible berries by chance. At heat treatment they do not lose their harmful properties and home-made preparations made from them are poisonous to humans.
3. Homemade tinctures and water infusions for internal use can also be poisonous.

Symptoms of poisoning

May lily of the valley is highly toxic. Plant poisoning causes the following symptoms:

• severe abdominal pain
• severe nausea and vomiting
• weakness and pallor of the skin
• headache
• arrhythmia, bradycardia, low blood pressure

In case of poisoning, confusion and various hallucinations appear. The plant contains a large number of cardiac glycosides, so death from cardiac arrest may occur.

Treatment of poisoning

At the first symptoms of intoxication, you should first call a doctor. Prior to his arrival, you need to provide the victim with first aid. It consists of the following actions:

1. Rinse the stomach. Give the patient to drink a large volume of boiled water, or an aqueous solution of manganese. Induce cleansing vomit.
2. Give activated charcoal, Smecta or any other sorbent.
3. Make a mandatory cleansing enema. Before that, take a laxative.
4. Be sure to show the injured doctor.

Help must be provided in a timely manner, otherwise the consequences can be very sad.

May lily of the valley is a very poisonous plant, which at the same time has medicinal properties. It is necessary to take drugs from it for the treatment and prevention of diseases very carefully, only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor. If you follow all the recommendations, then the plant will only benefit.