Lily of the Valley (convallaria) plants can be planted in pots or in beds, with positive and negative effects associated with each. When growing lily of the valley in pots, try to pick a container that’s deeper than it is wide to accommodate its long roots. For bare-root plants (called pips), plan for early spring or fall planting. For those of us who desire to grow less than hardy varieties, container growing may be the only solution as less hardy varieties will not survive a winter in the ground. It’s okay to trim a few inches off the roots if they don’t fit in your pot… You’ll get a weed-proof ground cover with the bonus of pretty spring flowers. GROWING LILY OF THE VALLEY IN CONTAINERS Lilly of the valley can be grown in containers and pots but they do need a very regular supply of water which can be a real problem in the summer. Lily of the valley can spread using underground structures known as rhizomes. 4 Remove the pips from the bucket, and trim their roots if the pot is not tall enough for them. Be sure your planting container has plenty of holes for drainage. Lily of the Valley Care With both white and pink Lily of the Valley available. No matter what method you choose for growing lily of the valley, you will find that lily of the valley care is easy and worth the rewards. Here are some steps and hints to improve the health of your Lily of the Valley. If your yard has a dark, forlorn area near an outbuilding or under a fence, it may be just the thing. Lily of the valley prefers growing in dappled light, but it’s one of the few plants that can take full shade. If you’re buying it in pots, you can tuck plants into soil in spring when all danger of frost is past. Also, lily of the valley thrives in cooler temperatures and is said to survive sub-zero temperatures so don’t be afraid to leave it outside through winter. Why grow lilies in pots when they are so easy to grow in the ground? The best time to plant lily of the valley varies depending on what form you buy. Lily of the valley typically takes … Learn more about container growing lily of the valley plants here. Lily of the valley flowers need damp soil, but it is unhealthy for them to sit in standing water. Read more on … Try planting lily of the valley plants in a naturalistic garden. Plant the bulb in this mxture with the tip level with the soil. Growing lily of the valley plants (Convallaria majalis) is easy, as they will remain perennial in USDA Zones 2-9. Use two inches of pebbles in the bottom of the container then fill the rest with the peat moss, loam, and sand mixture. All parts of Lily of the Valley are poisonous when ingested and should be kept out of reach of children. If you live in a location that stays moderately warm, your Lily of the Valley may stay in bloom all year long. But can you grow lily of the valley in pots? Lily of the valley typically takes two years to flower when planted bare root. If you’re buying it in pots, you can tuck plants into soil in spring when all danger of frost is past. I prefer to grow mine in pots, they are said to become invasive and can spread slowly but aggressively. The foliage gathers sunlight, which provides strength for future plants. Shirely and Jane Tonkin have been growing Lily of the Valley for many years and share some ideas on the history, cultivation and growing of these special bulbs. Finding the right flowering plants for your shade garden can be problematic, and early blooming and fragrant varieties can be few and far between.