Lily of the Valley Alba

*The pips come as a clump with their fibrous roots so they can travel safely. On arrival you can divide them easily by gently pulling them apart. Then plant them out individually into the garden. These are a mix of first and second year pips. So for some, in the first year there may only be foliage, then as they establish you can enjoy more and more deliciously dreamy, fragrant blooms.

With such sensational, perfumed bells, it is no wonder Lily of the Valley has graced gardens around the world for generations. Their nostalgic charm is undeniable, with around three weeks of pretty white flowers on the narrow stems amongst lush, upright, green foliage. They are fantastic for picking too.

Once settled in the right spot, Lily of the Valley can naturalise readily and form small, delightful colonies. It holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit so you know it can be relied upon and looks good.

You can plant your Lily of the Valley in moist, shaded areas such as under eaves, trees or shrubs where other plants are hard to grow. They thrive in shaded sites, as an under storey plant or ground cover. Lily of the Valley prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soils.

You can tell if a pip is of flowering size when you give it a gentle squeeze it feels like a little marble is in it. These are a mix of first and second year pips, they begin to bloom from their second year.

Lily of the Valley can be grown in pots but you will need to be onto it with the watering .

Other common names for Convallaria majalis are Word Lily, Mugget, May Bells and Lady’s Tears.