Reasons Why Lily of the Valley May Fail to Bloom

17.02.2024 - 17:59 / gardenerspath.com / Lorna Kring

Reasons Why Lily of the Valley May Fail to Bloom

A prized planting for shady sites, lily of the valley makes a beautiful, cool green ground cover with small spires of tiny, bell-shaped flowers and a delightful perfume.

But if they’re not blooming, you’re missing a treat in the spring garden!

An easy care perennial, the pretty creamy white or pink flowers appear readily when just a few specific growing conditions are met: a shady setting, moist soil when the plant is setting buds, and adequate space for the roots to spread freely.

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Give them what they like and you’ll enjoy a beautiful carpet of adorable, fragrant flowers. But if something is amiss, the plant may fail to flower.

Keep reading to learn some easy fixes for lily of the valley that won’t bloom!

Here’s a preview of what’s ahead:

Overall, lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, is a low maintenance perennial.

Affected by very few disease or pest problems, they spread fast in optimal conditions. The thick, fleshy roots quickly fill in beds and plants come back fuller every year.

If left to grow unchecked, lily of the valley plants quickly form a handsome ground cover that effectively chokes out weeds.

To grow into vibrant plants with plenty of flowers, lily of the valley needs partial shade, consistent moisture, and loose soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

While C. majalis has a well-earned reputation for being tough and reliable, problems like root rot can arise if they’re planted in overly wet soil – a well-draining environment is a must for healthy plants.

As light feeders, a one- or two-inch layer of compost in early spring meets all