I love the contradictory nature of lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis).
The small, bell-shaped blooms look delicate and sweet, yet the plant is anything but. It’s actually tough as nails and can survive in some very adverse conditions.
It also spreads itself determinedly. Some might say, too determinedly, as it’s listed as invasive or a noxious weed in many states.
The deer and rabbits avoid it, and it’s resistant to verticillium wilt.
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In our guide to growing lily of the valley, we cover how to cultivate C. majalis in your landscape.
Most gardeners are familiar with the species plant, with its green, sword-shaped leaves topped with stalks of white bell-like blossoms.
But this shade-loving plant is available in lots of different variations.
The cultivars aren’t as easy to find as the species, but if you look to specialty nurseries, you’ll almost certainly be able to find a few fabulous options.
Here are the exciting varieties and cultivars that we’re going to discuss:
19 Lily of the Valley Varieties
1. Albomarginata
“Albo” means white in Latin, and “marginata” means border. Put them together and what do you have?
White margins! The leaves of Albomarginata are green with, you guessed it, white margins.
This is a naturally-occurring variety and apart from the color of the leaves, the flowers and size of the plant are the same as the species.
2. Albostriata
I can’t get enough of the leaves of ‘Albostriata.’
They resemble a dark green pinstripe suit with pale yellow or white stripes. The name “alba,” as mentioned, is Latin for white, and “striata” means striped.
This absolute stunner goes by several names, including ‘Striata’ or ‘Variegata.’
Each wide leaf has pale yellow or pale green stripes. The cut flowers are gorgeous in a bouquet, but so are the leaves.
This one doesn’t spread quite as aggressively as the species plant, so it’s a perfect choice where you want to add some texture to your shady spots but don’t have to worry about it ranging out of control.
3. Berlin Giant
‘Berlin Giant’ was appropriately named. It grows much taller than the species at over a foot in height, with proportionally larger leaves and flowers.
Other than its size, it looks exactly like the species plant we know and love, making it ideal for where you just need something a bit larger.
4. Bordeaux
‘Bordeaux’ has strong stems that are slightly longer than average and larger, more abundant flowers.
While the species typically produces about six to eight bell-shaped flowers per stem, ‘Bordeaux’ can carry up to 12 per stem.
The foliage is a touch darker than the species and the tips of the leaves are more rounded.
If you like to use lily of the valley stems or leaves in bouquets, this is an excellent option.
5. Bridal Choice
‘Bridal Choice’ was tailor-made for bouquets, bridal or otherwise.
The robust flower stems are over a foot long, bearing up to 12 large, highly fragrant blooms.
The leaves are also proportionally larger than the species. For the cut flower enthusiast or bride-to-be, this cultivar is a winner.
6. Cream da Mint
This pretty cultivar sports mint-green leaves trimmed in pale yellow, giving it a sumptuous, creamy, minty appearance.
Rick Sawyer of Fraser’s Thimble Farm discovered this sport in a group of plants that he’d left to their own devices.
The original term for cream mint in French is “creme de menthe.” But you’ll see this cultivar called “cream da mint,” “creme de mint,” “cream de menthe,” and all other kinds of iterations.
7. Dorien
‘Dorien,’ at first glance, looks like any other lily of the valley.
The glossy green lanceolate leaves emerge from a tidy rosette and grow to about nine inches tall. But then the flowers emerge and you can see what sets this cultivar apart.
Each white blossom is much larger than the species, making a much grander visual impact in the garden.
8. Fernwood’s Golden Slippers
This lovely cultivar appeared as a sport of ‘Cream da Mint’ at Rick Sawyer’s Fernwood Nursery in Montville, Maine.
It practically glows in the garden with bright chartreuse leaves edged in glorious gold.
It’s not as aggressive as the species and grows a bit taller. If you see a lily of the valley labeled as just ‘Golden Slippers,’ it’s the same one.
9. Flore Pleno
‘Flore Pleno’ has been a lily of the valley favorite for decades. The name is Latin for “full flower” and is the perfect description.
The frilly, cream-colored blooms are fully double, held on stems a bit longer than that of the species creating an impressive display.
This cultivar is sometimes listed as ‘Flore Plena.’
10. Fortin’s Giant
Also known as ‘Géant de Fortin,’ one look at the huge blossoms and impressive height and you’ll understand why ‘Fortin’s Giant’ was so named.
The large flowers appear on the end of strong stalks that can be up to 15 inches long. Even after the flowers fade and the red berries follow, it makes for an outsized display.
11. Grandiflora
As the name suggests, this cultivar has big flowers! The leaves and flower stalks are pretty much the same as the species plant, but the pretty white blooms are much larger.
They look just like those of the species, but as though you’re viewing them through a magnifying glass.
The flowers are also even more fragrant than normal.
12. Green Tapestry
The leaves of gorgeous ‘Green Tapestry’ are striped, mottled, and splotched in lighter shades of green against a dark green backdrop.
When the white blossoms aren’t present, it is reminiscent of a cast iron plant (Aspidistra spp.). But then the fragrant bells appear and it’s all lily of the valley.
13. Haldon Grange
Haldon Grange is a beloved garden in Exeter, England. The lily of the valley plant named after it stands out with green leaves lined in bright yellow.
We’re not talking some pale creamy yellow, either. The margins are bright, bold yellow!
The flowers are highly fragrant and the plant is an extremely vigorous grower, which is saying a lot for a species that is already known for its robustness.
In spite of that, it’s not any more aggressive than the species.
14. Hardwick Hall
Named for the famous home of the beloved English garden, ‘Hardwick Hall’ is another variegated type. Despite being a fast grower, it isn’t as aggressive as the species.
It features wide, dark green leaves with creamy white margins. The strong stems make this one ideal for use in cut flower arrangements as well.
15. Hofheim
‘Hofheim’ delights with the traditional bell-shaped white flowers, but it’s the leaves that really make this cultivar stand out.
The green leaves have margins that vary from bright yellow to white, with light green mixed in. Plus, the stripes might extend into the centers of the leaf blades.
16. Lineata
‘Lineata’ holds a special place in my heart. I’ve never been able to find it for sale in my neck of the woods, sadly.
The plant is the same size with the same blossoms as the species, but the leaves have thin yellow and cream stripes running their length.
The pattern is extremely eye-catching, even when the plant isn’t in bloom. This cultivar grows and spreads a bit slower than the species.
17. Potsdam Stripe
‘Potsdam Stripe’ is a sweet little variegated cultivar with creamy white stripes, which makes it look a bit like ‘Albostriata.’
But the stripes are wider than those of ‘Albostriata’ and the plant grows to a petite 10 inches tall.
It was discovered in Potsdam Park, Germany, and stabilized by breeder Eduard Hachunda.
18. Prolificans
It might look like ‘Prolificans’ has double flowers, but in reality, there are just so many, packed very tightly on the flower stalks.
The flowers are generally white but can be faintly pink on stems up to a foot tall.
This plant is less aggressive than the species and tends not to spread very much.
19. Rose
‘Rose,’ ‘Rosea,’ or ‘Pink,’ as this cultivar is variously called, features baby pink instead of white or cream flowers.
It looks like a painter used a paintbrush to give the flowers a faint mauve hue.
Rose Lily of the Valley
This one will cheerfully spread through the garden, adding color and texture as it goes.
You can find bags of three crowns available at Burpee.
Or you can snap up a six-pack at Nature Hills Nursery.
A Delicate-Yet-Tough Beauty With So Many Options
What would we do without lily of the valley? There’d be a lot of bare shady patches in gardens around the world.
But we aren’t limited to just the classic species. There are stripes, splotches, pink flowers, and various sizes out there to liven up our shade gardens.
Did I miss a particular cultivar that you adore? Share the details about it with us in the comments!
And for more information about growing lily of the valley, check out these guides next: