Lily of the Valley

Includes: Convallaria, family Asparagaceae (Subfamily Nolinoideae)

Folk Names: Convallaria, Lily Constancy, May Lily, May Bells, Our Lady's Tears, Mary's Tears, Jacob's Ladder, Ladder to Heaven; Muguet (French), Ling Lan (China), Convalaria, Lírio Convale, Lírio dos Vales, Flor de Maio, Mugueto (Brazil), Mughetto (Italian); Glovewort, Apollinaris
Scientific Names: Convallaria Majalis (Lily of the Valley), Convallaria Majalis var. Montana (American Lily of the Valley), Convallaria Majalis var. Keiskei (Asian Lily of the Valley)

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Native Regions: Europe, Russia, Caucasus (Official); Western North America through the Midwest and into Canada (American); China, Japan (Asian)
Naturalized Regions: There is some question as to whether or not American Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis var. Montana) is actually a native, or was originally naturalized
Invasive Regions: Convallaria Majalis (Official) is invasive in regions of the US and Canada where it has escaped cultivation. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Virginia have formally declared it invasive in their states.

Physical Description: Hardy, low-growing, rhizomatous perennial with narrowly ovate, smooth mid-to-dark green leaves, and sprays of small, very fragrant, pendulous, bell-shaped, white flowers.

Scent Description: Delicate and sweet, leafy-floral

Oil Product Description:
Scent Synergies:

Wildlife and Livestock Uses: None; plant is poisonous to people, animals, and livestock (especially poultry).

Gardening Uses: Ornamental uses as ground cover, and under trees- or along shaded borders and walkways.

Handling Concerns: All parts of the plant are poisonous
Growing Concerns: Hardy in zones 3 to 8 (Woodward) or 2 to 9 (Crosson). Prefers partial shade and likes moist, humus-rich soil; propagate by division after flowering or in fall; naturally aggressive spreader that forms dense rhizomous mats.

Medicinal Uses: Antispasmodic, cardiotonic, diuretic, emetic, febrifuge, laxative, sedative

Compounds Known: 38 different cardiac glycoside compounds (cardenolides)- less powerful than digitalin, but still potent nonetheless; bourgeonal, saponins.
Concerns & Contraindications: Poisonous- all parts, but especially the leaves; even water in which the flowers are kept is toxic.
Poisoning may cause rash, irritability, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, drooling, headache, dizziness, blurred or double vision, hallucinations, and irregular heartbeat- the later of which which may eventually lead to coma, heart failure, and / or death.
Treatment may include administration of activated charcoal, gastric lavage, cardiac depressants, saline cathartics, an electrocardiogram, and blood tests to check cardiac glycosides levels.

Culinary Uses: None; plant is poisonous.

Practical Uses: None.

Magical Uses: Attracts Nature Spirits (Woodward, Crosson), Creativity (Crosson), Intuition (Crosson), Deepens Spiritual Connections & Facilitates Spiritual Communication (Gregg, Woodward), Power to Visualize A Better World (Dietz), Decision-Making (Dietz), Mental Powers (Cunningham, Dietz, Woodward), Mental Clarity (Dietz), Happiness (Cunningham, Dietz, Folkard, Gregg, Woodward), Cheering (Cunningham, Dietz, Gregg, Woodward), Repels Negativity (Woodward), Luck (de Cleene, Dietz), Healing (Dietz), Success (Gregg), Love (Woodward)

Additional Notes: There is a history of picking, wearing, and presenting the flower to others despite it being poisonous. I would assume this means that only ingestion is toxic in this case. This has not been confirmed or clarified by any sources, however- which only stress the importance of remembering the plant is toxic. Caution is still advised when handling the plant (and I wouldn't follow any advice for putting it in your bath water, or on your skin; etc). divider

Lily of the valley is a symbol of love in Christian iconography and European art.

'The Encyclopedia of Aphrodisiacs: Psychoactive Substances For Use In Sexual Practices' by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling

Delicate and sweet, leafy-floral; Lily of the Valley is not particularly valued in perfumery. In fact, it's hardly commercially available as a natural perfume oil at all. This is largely because cultivated Convallaria Majalis is considerably less fragrant than its wild counterparts. In most cases, a perfumer can create an artificial perfume base which is technically superior to the natural absolute because it performs better in a product than the natural oil can. Therefore, if improved extraction techniques cannot present the perfumers with a Lily of the Valley absolute that's as powerful and rich as, and therefore superior to, the artificial bases, there is little or no future for Lily of the Valley Absolutes in perfumery.

'Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin' by Steffen Arctander (1994)

Improves the memory and mind. When placed in a room, they cheer the heart and lift the spirits.

'Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs' by Scott Cunningham

A hardy perennial, with hanging, bell-shaped white flowers and smooth, dark green leaves, and spreads by underground roots to form thick beds. The plant also occasionally bears orange-red berries; Often mistaken for wild garlic.

Deadly. All parts of this plant are poisonous, especially the leaves — even the water in which the flowers are kept is toxic. The poison is similar to digitalis. Immediately after ingestion: nausea, rash, headache, and hallucinations; If large amounts are eaten: dizziness and vomiting may occur one or two hours later; slow heartbeat can lead to coma and death from heart failure. Treatment includes gastric lavage together with cardiac depressants to control cardiac rhythm. Activated charcoal may be given and repeated later, and saline cathartics may also be used.

'The Encyclopedia Of Poisons and Antidotes' (3rd Edition) by Carol Turkington and Deborah Mitchell

It is assumed that the plant was unknown in Antiquity, even to physicians, as no documents have survived in which it is mentioned; its first documented mention is in a German manuscript in the 15th century. Once described, it features prominantly in German, French, English, and Eastern European medicine and perfumery.

In Victorian Floriography, Lily of the Valley symbolizes recurring luck. It may also symbolize "keeping a safe distance": "Friendship is pleasant enough, speak not of love".

In France, particularly in the Tricastin area, on the 1st of May, Lily of the Valley is presented to wish people luck. Their status as an emblem of luck was solidified in France in the 16th and 17th centuries, when younge people also carried it to symbolize happiness and love. Bricklayers, carpenters, and roofers preserved Lilies of the Valley and places them on the roofs of newly built houses.

*(Both of these French originating traditions, in the book, have been linked to Germanic traditions involving Ostara- especially where it was supposedly customary to cast Lily of the Valley into Bonfires. But then the book turns around and says that the May Day customs involving Lily of the Valley as bringers of luck is an early 20th century invention).

In Ireland and much of Britain, however, it was a funerary flower, like most white flowers. It was therefore considerey unlucky to bring indoors, or to give as a gift. Lily of the Valley got special treatment, however, as planting it outside also brought misfortune; even so much as embroidering the flower on a hankerchief could be considered to be unlucky.

French-speaking regions of Belgium, and areas of France, still celebrate "The Feast of the Lily of the Valleys" on May 1st. The month of may in general in Christianity, along with the Lily of the Valley, are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and to St. Michael the Archangel, as well as Saint Wiro. It has become a symbol of modesty, humility (humbleness), and purity (especially virginal purity) as a result- especially in younger people. Its early blooming in Spring has also made it a symbol of the Resurreected or coming Christ.

In magic, they must be picked before sunrise on Ascension Day. If picked before sunrise and rubbed onto the face, they were beleived to prevent freckles from developing.

'Compendium of Symbolic and Ritual Plants in Europe' by Marcel de Cleene and Marie Claire Lejeune

Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial with narrowly ovate, mid- to dark green leaves and sprays of small, very fragrant, pendulous, bell-shaped, white flowers. Prefers partial shade and likes moist, humus-rich soil; propagate by division after flowering or in fall.

'Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers' (New 2019 Edition) by Dorling Kindersley Limited

Symbolic meanings include: Christ's second coming, tears of the virgin Mary, fortune in love, good luck, happiness, purity of heart, humility, joy, return of happiness (after absense), sociability, sweetness, trustworthy, you've made my life complete.

Possible powers are Happiness, healing, making the right choice, mental clarity, mental powers, power to visualize a better world; place it in a room to uplift and cheer the people in it.

'Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History' by S. Theresa Dietz

Lily of the Valley means the Return of Happiness; In France, Germany, and Holland the water distilled from Lily of the Valley was special enough that it was kept only in vessels of gold and silver

'Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics - Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folklore of the Plant Kingdom' by Richard Folkard

Planted in the yard, or in a vase in the home, Lily of the Valley attracts happiness, joy, and success; deepens spiritual connections; and lifts your spirits.

*(There is advice in this book to "add the flowers to your bathwater to cleanse your energy and raise your spiritual vibrations". It should be repeated that all parts of this plant are highly toxic. Do not do this unless you are using a highly diluted plant spirit essense that is properly made).

'Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants: A Practical Guide to Creating Healing, Protection, and Prosperity using Plants, Herbs, and Flowers' (Revised Edition) by Susan Gregg

In Ireland and England it's unlucky to plant a bed of Lily of the Valley, and it's thought that the person to do so will be sure to die within the year. In England it is always considered unlucky for girls in particular, who will be the one to die if it's brought indoors. There is also a German belief that burying Lily of the Valley under the threshold of a stall will bewitch the cattle and milk. It also symbolized purity, particularly in early Netherlandish and German paintings. But it is toxic and dangerously poisonous if eaten by animals or poultry.

'Elsevier's Dictionary of Plant Lore' by Donald Watts

Cheer, contentment, faery ﬂower, happiness, love, and mental powers; Plant it in meditation gardens to facilitate communication- or in general to attract nature spirits; it naturally holds positive energy to inspire gladness. Use it to repel negative energy or thwart melancholia as a result. Add it to cut flower bouquets instead to lift mood and evoke happiness within a room. Breathe in the fragrance before meditation to expand concentration and perception. Wear a sprig when you wish to maintain your personal barriers, empower your ability to speak, or keep your thoughts on track.

'Backyard Garden Witchery: Creating Magickal Space Outside Your Door' by Laurel Woodward

Faery magick, intuition, and creating

'A Year in the Enchanted Garden: Cultivating the Witch's Soul with Spells, Crafts & Garden Know-How' by Monica Crosson