How to Have Fragrant Lily of the Valley in Winter

Stand back, amaryllis. Amaryllis, step back. The lily of the valley is ready to take over. Yes, lily-of-the-valley!

After my hyacinths bulbs rotted last winter and my amaryllis were clearly not going to bloom on my schedule, I was feeling a bit gun-shy about forcing bulbs. It was my intention to not force any bulbs.

Then, in December, I suddenly got the idea to grow lily of the valley. The price had always discouraged me from trying this. After the idea took root, I immediately began to compare prices online. Amazon had a range of prices, but all of the cheap sources were accompanied by a lot of negative reviews. White Flower Farm was always the source I thought was expensive. Perhaps I felt entitled because I had no other bulbs I could force. Maybe I was just desperate, given the freezing temperatures.

I ordered two bundles.

Follow along as I try to force lily of the valley.

The roots were wrapped tightly to protect them from the cold and keep them moist.

Unwrapped, here’s how they look.

Lily of the Valley has a creeping rootstack with growth points known as pips. The pips will eventually grow into flowers and leaves.

You don’t have to put broken dishes in the bottom. To prevent soil from leaking out, a coffee filter will do.

White Flower Farm suggested an eight-inch container, which was perfect. It’s better to use a larger pot. If you live in a cold climate, you can bring your potting mix into the house a day before. This will allow the soil to thaw. Your potting soil must be moist.

If you have trouble fitting the roots into the pot, you can trim them a little.

It’s difficult to get the soil between the roots. The video provided by White Flower Farm (see below) was very helpful as the presenter looked uncomfortable.

All done.

The pips are visible peeking through the soil.

Waiting is the hardest part.

For the first two-week period, they did not do anything. At least, nothing that I could see. I began to wonder if the box had frozen on the porch. They might never blossom.

After three weeks I started to see some results.

The first bells began to open exactly one month after I planted them.

I’ll plant the plants in the ground if I can keep them alive through the winter. They should continue to bloom for several years after a year. This makes me feel like my frugal side is justified.