May Birthday FlowerMay Birthday Flower is Lily of the Valley.
The Latin name is Convallaria majalis, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley. It is a woodland plant that is native to cool Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and Eastern USA. It is a perennial plant that grows by creating a network of underground stems (rhizomes) that also send out more stems. Each spring each rhizome sends up flowering stems about 8 inches tall. The flowers are white and in the shape of a bell. These flowers have a very sweet smell. A small orange-red berry forms with a few seeds. The leaves, stem and flowers of Lily of the Valley are poisonous. After handling them you should wash your hands.
Growing Lily of the ValleyGarden Centers, such as BloomingBulb.com, sell the Lily of the Valley as sprouts which you plant about 6 inches apart. These plants can be very invasive in woodland areas so take care to limit its boundaries.The flower grows in the shade best and requires moderate amounts of water. It appears delicate, however it is a very hardy plant. It can bloom as early as March in the Eastern United States. In the spring when it blooms it may have from 5 to 15 pure white bells on a single stem with two waxy thick leaves protecting them. A beautiful garden gift for the May birthday is a small contained flower bed in the shade planted with four to twelve rhizomes.
Perfect Birthday Celebrations - Homepage for May Birthday Flower.
|
