Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Bordeaux Lily of the Valley: Sweet Spring Bells for Shady Corners
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Bordeaux lily of the valley is an improved form of the old garden classic, with larger, pure white bells, eight to twelve per stem, held up above the leaves instead of hiding among them. The fragrance is the sweet scent of spring that many people remember from a grandparent's garden.
Lavender and lily of the valley are both loved for their scent, but they will never share a bed. Lily of the valley wants shade and steady moisture, the opposite of a lavender row. It belongs on the shady side of the same garden: under trees, along a north-facing foundation or on a cool slope.
Bordeaux at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Convallaria majalis 'Bordeaux' |
| Flowers | Waxy, pure white bells with scalloped rims, 8 to 12 per stem |
| Fragrance | Exceptional, sweet |
| Foliage | Broad, dark green, tulip-like leaves |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall; spreads 8 to 15 inches and beyond over time |
| Bloom | Early to mid-May, lasting several weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 2 to 7 |
| Deer | Resistant |
A fragrance garden in two parts
If you grow lavender for scent, lily of the valley is a way to extend the fragrant season into spring and into the parts of the yard lavender cannot use. Its bells open in May, weeks before lavender flowers, so the garden smells sweet from spring through midsummer: lily of the valley in the shade first, then lavender in the sun.
Think about where you walk. A patch beside a shaded back door or along a path under trees puts the scent where you will notice it. The Companion Plant Planner lets you sketch the sunny lavender beds and the shady areas together.
Planting and care
- Light: part to full shade. It takes some sun in cool spots, but hot sun browns the leaves and sends it dormant early.
- Soil: average to rich and evenly moist.
- Planting pips: this listing is for flowering-size pips. Set them just below the surface with the pointed tips up, and water well.
- Spreading: it travels by underground stems. Give it space to colonize or set an edging to keep it in bounds.
- Problems: leaf spot, anthracnose and stem rot can mark foliage in wet, crowded patches; thin overcrowded areas.
- Winter: extremely hardy and needs winter cold to flower. No protection needed in Michigan.
A few stems for the house
Bordeaux rates well as a cut flower. Cut a handful of stems when the lower bells have opened and set them in a small vase or a juice glass. A few stems can perfume a room. Wash your hands after handling, and keep cut stems and the small orange berries that may follow the flowers away from children and pets, since every part of the plant is poisonous if eaten.
Ordering format
Bordeaux is offered as bare root, flowering-size pips. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why didn't my lily of the valley flower this year?
New plantings often take a season to settle. Too much sun, dry soil or a mild winter can also reduce flowering.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It is listed for containers. Keep the pot in shade and the soil evenly moist.
Will it take over?
It spreads readily, which is what makes it a good groundcover. Plant it where a spreading carpet is welcome, or edge the bed.
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