Many nurseries list lily of the valley as restricted to full shade, but the plant (hardy in Zones 3 to 8) will tolerate bright shade and even some sun. As a ground cover under tall trees or large woody shrubs, lily of the valley is hard to match for its long blooming period during the growing season.
This begs the question “How much sun does a lily of the valley need?”
Plant lily of the valley in partial sun to full shade. Direct morning sun is all right, but the plant needs protection from harsh afternoon sun. And if you live in a warmer part of its growing zones, full shade is best.
Is Lily of the valley drought tolerant?
Lily of the valley is an extremely tough plant and it will grow in almost any type of soil or climate . Though the roots love moisture, once the plants are established, they are quite drought tolerant. In warmer zones the foliage of lily of the valley usually stays green throughout the winter.
What is a lily of the valley plant?
Lily of the valley plants has been around since at least 1000 B. And are among the most aromatic floral plants in the northern temperate areas in early summer and the spring.
This of course begs the question “How do you take care of a lily of the valley?”
Water the lily of the valley when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry. Avoid wetting the plants’ foliage if possible. Water during morning hours so if foliage gets wet it has time to dry before nightfall.
The best place to plant lily of the valley is one that gets partial shade. However, the plants can be adapted to tolerate full sun or shade if their water intake is adjusted.
What kind of soil does a lily-of-the-valley bush need?
Lily-of-the-valley bush requires acidic soil to thrive. In areas with alkaline soil, the bush is in for a tough life, and in many cases, may decline each year. If you have bad soil but love lily-of-the-valley bush, consider a dwarf variety that performs well in containers. Lily-of-the-valley bush requires well-drained soil.