Lily of the Valley by Wanderer MoonChild

Lily of the Valley

by Wanderer MoonChild

🌱 Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Lily of the Valley
2. Folk Name(s): May Bells, Our Lady’s Tears, Ladder to Heaven, Jacob’s Ladder, Fairy Cups
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Convallaria majalis
4. Family: Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae)
5. Plant Type: Perennial, rhizomatous groundcover
6. Botanical Description: Low-growing herbaceous perennial with arching stems; tiny, bell-shaped white flowers (occasionally pink), intensely fragrant; glossy, lance-shaped leaves in pairs; produces small orange-red berries after flowering.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: USDA Zones 3–8
8. Best Zones for Growth: Prefers cooler temperate regions; thrives in partial shade woodlands.
9. Habitat & Range: Native to Europe and Asia; naturalized in North America; found in woodland understories, shaded slopes, and moist, humus-rich soils.

🌿 Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil; partial to full shade. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils.
2. Propagation: Best propagated by division of rhizomes in autumn or early spring; slow to grow from seed.
3. Companion Planting: Pairs well with shade-loving perennials like hostas, ferns, and bleeding hearts.
4. Harvesting Guidelines: Use extreme caution—all parts of the plant are highly toxic. Flowers may be gathered for fragrance or ritual, but gloves should be worn.
5. Drying/Preservation: Flowers may be carefully pressed for ritual or decorative use; not typically dried for medicinal or culinary purposes due to toxicity.

🌸 Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: In European folklore, the flower was associated with humility, purity, and the return of happiness. In France, it is a traditional gift on May Day (La Fête du Muguet).
2. Traditional Medicine: Historically used in small, controlled doses as a heart tonic, similar to foxglove, for treating arrhythmias and dropsy.
3. Symbolism: Represents purity, renewal, and the arrival of spring; often linked with the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition as “Our Lady’s Tears.”

🌼 Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Cardiac glycosides (convallatoxin, convallamarin, convallatoxol), flavonoids, saponins.
2. Medicinal Uses: Historically for heart failure, arrhythmia, and fluid retention (dropsy). Sometimes used externally in poultices for burns or skin conditions.
3. Preparation Methods: Tinctures, infusions, and decoctions were once prepared by trained herbalists or physicians—not recommended for home use.
4. Dosage & Guidelines: Extremely narrow therapeutic window; traditional dosing was done under strict supervision.
5. Safety/Precautions: Highly poisonous. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and even death. Should never be self-administered.

🌙 Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Water
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Venus; also linked with Maia (Roman goddess of spring), the Virgin Mary, and sometimes fairies.
3. Magical Correspondences: Purity, renewal, happiness, protection, spiritual cleansing, return of joy.
4. Ritual Use: Flowers are used in spring rites, handfastings, or May Day rituals. Can be placed on altars for blessings of happiness or new beginnings.
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: Seeing lily of the valley in dreams can signify renewal, joy returning after hardship, or a message from ancestors or the divine feminine.

🌍 Ecological & Culinary Usea:

1. Pollinator Value: Provides nectar to bees, especially in shaded woodland habitats.
2. Wildlife Uses: Its berries are consumed by some birds, though toxic to humans and pets.
3. Culinary Uses: None. Plant is poisonous—should never be used in food or drink.

Works Cited / Sources

1. USDA NRCS. Convallaria majalis Plant Profile. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_coma17.pdf
2. Duke, James A. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. 2nd ed., CRC Press, 2002.
3. Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. Dover Publications, 1971 (original 1931). Botanical.com entry: Lily of the Valley
4. Foster, Steven, and James A. Duke. Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014.
5. Plants for a Future (PFAF). “Convallaria majalis — Lily of the Valley.” https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Convallaria+majalis
6. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). “Lily of the Valley — Growing Guide.” https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/959/convalaria-majalis/details
7. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed., DK Publishing, 2016.