Native Plant Alternatives to Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)

Convallaria majalis, commonly known as Lily of the Valley, is a sweetly scented, highly poisonous woodland flowering plant that is native to the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and the southern part of North America. It is highly shade-tolerant and can form dense colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes.

While it’s a beloved plant in many gardens due to its beautiful flowers and fragrance, it can be considered invasive in certain areas, especially in the United States, where it is not native. The plant spreads quite readily, and in some areas, it can outcompete native vegetation, leading to a reduction in biodiversity.

Lily of the Valley is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need less fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.