Bloomipedia
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
Photo: Lynn Harper via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis

Introduced in the lower 48

Lily of the valley is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

31states
4of our state lists
13,335U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island

Quick look

Lily-of-the-valley, also written as lily of the valley, is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Asia.

  • It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.8 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,482 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #52 among the 110 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,744 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #96 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 327 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #90 among the 109 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist

Lily of the valley gift ideas

Handmade lily of the valley gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Lily of the valley art print

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    Lily of the valley greeting card

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    Lily of the valley mug

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    Lily of the valley earrings

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    Lily of the valley embroidery pattern

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    Lily of the valley sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,993 records)
Bloom time in each of our 4 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Massachusetts–May–June2,482
Michigan–May–June1,744
New Hampshire–May–June327
Rhode Island–April–May219

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe has no Massachusetts rank for it. MESA list
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe has no Michigan rank for it. R 299.1028
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe has no New Hampshire rank for it. NH Ncr 312
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe has no Rhode Island rank for it. RI rare plants 2016
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Toxic only if large quantities eaten. Irregular and slow pulse, abdominal pain and diarrhea, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Lily of the Valley” (Convallaria majalis) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records lily of the valley in 31 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Calhoun, Chippewa, Emmet, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Lenawee, Marquette, Montcalm, Newaygo, Saginaw, St. Clair, Washtenaw.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Cheshire, Grafton, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

More Massachusetts flowers

Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal) (Maianthemum racemosum)

Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal)

Maianthemum racemosum

Native

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–June
Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canada mayflower

Maianthemum canadense

Native

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–June
Common star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

Common star-of-Bethlehem

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: April–May

Sources