States
North CarolinaTennesseeGeorgiaSouth CarolinaKentuckyAlabamaArkansasFloridaLouisianaMississippiVirginiaWest Virginia
Menu

European Lily-of-the-valley

Convallaria majalis

Found in old homesites, roadsides, persistent after cultivation, and casually escaping to nearby woodlands and forests. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

—
Not native

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height
6–10 inches
Spread
4–12 inches
Light
Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Bird's-foot Violet
    Viola pedata

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Blue, purple or white.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Downy Yellow Violet
    Viola pubescens

    Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow or orange.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Hooded Blue Violet
    Viola sororia

    Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Blue, pink, purple or white.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
April and June
Fruiting season
July to August

Recorded in 2 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

1CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Convallaria

  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ruscaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–7b
Flower color
White
Growth rate
Slow
Growth habit
Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
July
Fruit ends
August

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Convallaria majalis var. majalis; European Lily Of The Valley

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankG5
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources