*The pips come as a clump so they travel safely. On arrival you can divide them easily by gently pulling apart. Then plant them out individually into the garden. Soak them overnight prior to planting to give them a good start. Wash your hands after handling. These are a mix of first and second year pips, so year one may only be foliage and the following year flowers, those that will flower feel like a pea at the pip.
- Botanical Name
- Convallaria majalis
- Family
- Convallariaceae
- Plant Type
- Rhizomatous perennial
- Size (HxW)
- 15-25cm x 10-30cm
- Depth & Spacing
- Plant the ‘pips’ (rhizomes) horizontally 3-7cm under the soil surface and space them 20cm apart.
- Soil
- Humus rich, moist and well drained is ideal. They adore leaf matter and organic material, so if you can, add some prior to or at the time of planting then top them up each autumn.
- Aspect
- Filtered Light. More sun is tolerated in cool zones and by established plants. Paradoxically we grow this crop in our paddock, where we have noticed that even though it is a part shade plant that loves humus rich soils, once it establishes, it will grow in full sun. In our paddock it is in volcanic soil and it grows out in the open.
- Climate
- Cool to Temperate
- Frost
- Hardy
- Water
- Water well for the first few weeks to establish it takes plants 4-6 wks of regular watering for their roots to penetrate and gain access to the moisture and nutrients in the soil. Then keep moist in active growth (spring and summer).
- Fertiliser
- Apply a well balanced fertiliser late winter. They will also benefit from a yearly application of well-rotted animal manure and or leaf matter in winter.
- Flowering Time
- Spring
- After Flower Care
- In the first season the ‘berries’ that appear after flowering should be picked off so the plant growth is focused underground rather than on seeds. Remove spent flowers to tidy. Wait until foliage has yellowed before removing.
- Notes
- Keep protected from drying winds, aphids and slugs. Convallaria seem to thrive under eaves of the house or under other shrubs. If they are very comfortable in your garden they will begin to spread, if they go too far remove the crowns in autumn, pop them into a pot and bring them inside to perfume your home or give them away to friends. They are not invasive. Divide after 3 years or so to maintain flowering.
