Practical
Plants

Convallaria keiskei

Lily Of The Valley

a perennial member of the Convallaria genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[14][2][7]. However, the toxic principle is very poorly absorbed when taken orally so poisoning is unlikely to occur[13].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is cooked as a potherb or put in miso soup[5][6]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The flowers and flower buds are preserved in salt or mixed with leaf tea and drunk[5][6].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a ground cover in woodland shade or in a shrubbery[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Siberia.
Habitat
Highlands and mountain meadows all over Japan[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, otherwise in late winter, in a cold frame[4]. Germination, particularly of stored seed can be very slow, taking 2 - 12 months or more at 15°c[4]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be allowed to grow on undisturbed in the pot for their first year. Apply a liquid feed during the growing season to ensure that the seedlings are well fed. Divide the young plants into individual pots when they die down in late summer and grow them on in pots in a shady position in a cold frame for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant[K]. Division in September[3]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in almost any situation, including the dense dry shade of large trees[1][10]. Prefers a position in semi-shade in a moderately fertile well-drained moist woodland soil[8]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are hardy to -20°c or lower[8]. A good bee plant[11]. A very ornamental plant, though it can become very invasive once it is established[8]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

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  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

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  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  10. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

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  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  12. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  14. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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