The Complete Guide to Lily of the Valley Pips

Lily of the valley pips are a fantastic way to add delicate beauty and sweet fragrance to your garden In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about these charming spring flowers – from choosing the right pips to planting and care

What Are Lily of the Valley Pips?

Lily of the valley doesn’t actually grow from bulbs. Instead, they grow from rhizomes called pips. A pip consists of a short piece of rhizome with roots attached. Once planted the pip will quickly grow new shoots and roots multiplying to form a lush colony of lily of the valley plants.

Pips are sold either as 1-year-old “planting pips” or 2-year-old “flowering pips”. The 2-year-old pips are more mature and will bloom the first spring after planting. Only about 22% of 1-year-old pips will flower in the first season. However, the 1-year-old pips are a more economical way to establish a large planting.

Where to Plant Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley thrives in partial to full shade locations. Dappled sunlight filtering through trees is ideal. They also do well under shrubs and mixed into perennial beds and shady borders. Just be sure to give them room to spread!

Good spots for lily of the valley include:

• Under trees where grass is difficult to grow
• Along foundations or blank stretches of fences
• On shady banks or slopes to control erosion
• In unused sections of your landscape

Lily of the valley spreads rapidly, so plant it where it has room to naturalize. Use physical barriers like rocks, walls, or metal edging to contain it and prevent it from invading other garden areas.

How to Plant Lily of the Valley Pips

Early spring is the best time to plant lily of the valley pips while they are still dormant. Follow these simple steps:

1. Prepare the planting area by loosening soil and mixing in compost or peat moss to improve drainage.

2. Dig a hole or small trench 2-4 inches deep. Space pips 4-6 inches apart.

3. Place the pips in the soil with the growing tip facing up and roots spread out. The rhizome should sit just below the surface.

4. Backfill the soil and water well.

5. Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the pips to retain moisture as they establish.

If planting a slope or bank, secure pips in place by pinning them with U-shaped landscape staples.

Caring for Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley care is easy. Just provide the following growing conditions:

• Light: Dappled sunlight or partial shade

• Soil: Loose, humus-rich soil. Neutral to acidic pH.

• Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy. Mulch to conserve moisture.

• Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring.

• Maintenance: Remove dead foliage and flower stems. Divide congested pips every 2-3 years.

Lily of the valley is quite tolerant of drought once established. Just don’t let the soil completely dry out. Also watch out for slugs, snails, and vine weevils which may chew the foliage.

When and How Lily of the Valley Blooms

The bell-shaped lily of the valley flowers appear in late spring, usually during May in most climates. Each flower stalk (called a raceme) bears 5-15 flowers that dangle beneath the leaves like lovable bells. The blooms are usually white but you can also find pink flowering varieties.

Lily of the valley flowers are wonderfully fragrant with a sweet, fruity scent. Inside, the flowers provide nectar for pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

Each flower lasts about a week before fading. But a colony will be in bloom for 2-3 weeks as different stalks open in succession. To keep lily of the valley blooming well, be sure to give it rich, moist soil and afternoon shade.

How Lily of the Valley Spreads

One of the beauties of lily of the valley is that a few pips planted today will become a perfect carpet of green in just a few seasons. That’s because lily of the valley spreads rapidly via underground rhizomes.

Each year, the rhizomes grow new shoots. Roots also extend underground, allowing the plants to spread horizontally and form new colonies. Over time, these colonies will merge, blanketing the shaded planting area.

To encourage faster spreading, you can divide congested patches of lily of the valley every 2-3 years. This will stimulate the rhizomes to grow new roots and shoots.

Controlling Lily of the Valley Spread

While lily of the valley’s spreading habit is desirable in some areas, it can also be a drawback if plants invade parts of the landscape where they are not wanted.

Here are some tips to control lily of the valley spread:

• Surround planting areas with metal or plastic borders set 8-12 inches deep

• Remove stray shoots that pop up outside designated areas

• Grow lily of the valley in containers above ground

• Dig up and relocate portions of the planting every 2-3 years

• Cut off flower stalks before they can go to seed

Be persistent and don’t allow lily of the valley to gain a foothold outside your designated planting beds.

Using Lily of the Valley as Groundcover

Thanks to its rapid spread, lily of the valley makes an excellent groundcover plant. It forms a lush, weed-suppressing carpet beneath trees, on slopes, and in other difficult-to-maintain parts of your landscape.

Benefits of using lily of the valley as groundcover include:

• Chokes out weeds and prevents soil erosion
• Withstands foot traffic and compaction
• Stays neat and tidy looking with no mowing or trimming needed
• Tolerates dry shade once established
• Spreads quickly from just a few pips
• Adds beauty and fragrance to forgotten areas

Lily of the valley groundcover looks fantastic spilling over retaining walls, blanketing wild areas, and filling in where grass refuses to grow. Just give it adequate space and let it do its thing!

How to Force Lily of the Valley Indoors

You can easily force lily of the valley pips to bloom indoors during the late winter or early spring. Forced pips will fill your home with the fresh scent of spring.

Here is a simple forcing method:

1. Purchase and store 2-year-old flowering pips in the refrigerator for 8-10 weeks prior to forcing.

2. Pot the chilled pips in a moist peat-based potting mix. Water sparingly to keep the soil just moist.

3. Place pots in a cool, bright location (55-65°F). Avoid direct hot sun.

4. Tiny white buds will emerge after 4-6 weeks. Move pots to a slightly warmer spot to encourage full bloom.

5. Enjoy the blooms and fragrance for 1-2 weeks. Water to keep soil moist but not wet.

For the best effect, combine forced lily of the valley with other spring-blooming bulbs like hyacinths, grape hyacinths, and dwarf iris.

Common Problems With Lily of the Valley

When provided with its preferred growing conditions, lily of the valley is remarkably trouble-free. But occasionally you may encounter:

• Poor flowering: This is often linked to too much sun or overly dry soil. Stressed plants devote energy to foliage growth rather than flowers. Improve conditions to restore bloom.

• Leaves dry and brown: Drought stress is the most common cause. Water thoroughly during dry periods. Mulching helps retain soil moisture. Make sure pips aren’t planted too deeply.

• Stunted growth: Soil may be too dense, boggy, or nutrient deficient. Cultivate soil deeply and add organic matter like compost. Fertilize in early spring if plants lack vigor.

• Failure to spread: Competition from tree roots or overly dry, nutrient-poor soil can limit spread. Space pips further apart and amend soil to encourage horizontal growth.

• Foliage damage: Slugs and snails may chew leaves and blossoms. Apply slug bait or remove them by hand at night. Ensure soil drains well and remove leaf litter where they hide.

With proper care, you can avoid most issues and enjoy a thriving carpet of sweetly-scented lily of the valley blooms each spring.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lily of the Valley Pips

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about growing lily of the valley from pips:

How far apart should I space the pips when planting?
Space pips 4-6 inches apart to allow for future spreading and growth. Plant in staggered rows for the fullest coverage.

Should I cut off the flower stalks after blooming?
No, you can leave the bare stalks in place after flowers fade. They will nourish the plant’s rhizomes and help sustain future blooms.

Is lily of the valley deer resistant?
Yes! Deer, rabbits, and other wildlife tend to leave lily of the valley alone. This makes it a great option for gardens plagued by critters.

How much sun does lily of the valley need?
Partial shade is best, ideally with just dappled or morning sun. Too much hot sun will cause foliage to yellow and flowering to decline.

Can I transplant divisions from an existing lily of the valley planting?
Absolutely. Dig up and divide congested pips in early spring or fall and replant divisions elsewhere. Dividing stimulates new growth.

Are lily of the valley pips easy to grow?
Lily of the valley is one of the easiest perennials you can grow. Plant the pips in spring, provide partial shade and moderate moisture, and they will flourish with minimal care required.

The Delightful Magic of Lily of the Valley

As you can see, lily of the valley pips are an easy way to add beauty, fragrance, and groundcover to shady areas of your garden. In just a few seasons, a small investment in pips will yield waves of delicate blooms and lush greenery.

Bring a bit of spring magic to your landscape with lily of the valley. Let it carpet forgotten corners, grace woodland gardens, and perfume patios and entryways. The sweet chimes of this beloved flower are sure to make your heart – and garden – a happier place.