Like me, you probably think of Lily of the valley as being white but there’s also a dainty pink form, which is quite rare. The pink is stippled and subtle, as if it has been spray painted (although we’d better not go there, let’s say powder coated). Both forms prefer shady conditions, from dappled to full.
I’m including the ‘ordinary’ white version for comparison, although Lily of the valley never strikes me as anything other than a little, fragrant treat, no matter its colour.
Convallaria’s sweet, tumbling bells are famously used in perfumery and make evocative posies if you can bear to cut them. We had some of the white ones in our garden when I was a child but, over time, they melted away in the sunshine. They’re popular with brides in late spring and early summer because of their form, colour, scent and symbolism.
If you’re a fan of white roses and Lily of the valley, I think you’ll like the bouquet I posted a few years ago.
Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Susan Rushton 
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