Lily of the Valley
I've tried Lily of the Valley all around this garden for a few years and none have survived. Planted 3 a couple of months ago. One now has white bell flowers - the other two nearby (they are a foot apart) have flower stalks which have now turned brown.
Does anyone know if cutting off the browned flower stalks will prompt the plants to produce new ones - or do they just produce one set of flower stalks and that is it for the year?
The pic is the successful one - which I'm delighted about - although it's early doors and it might disappear by next year - which has always happened in the past in other parts of the garden. I'm assuming that new plants this size are not likely to spread for a few years and that there will be no new growth in this current year?
Posts
I think they can be tricksy yarrow. They establish where they feel like it!
As far as I'm aware, they only produce one lot of flowers, but you should get a bit more growth after flwoering. They might spread a little this year. That one certainly looks happy enough.
I have a little clump for planting out which was a handful of dry pips bought for pennies a few years ago. It's had no attention, but has produced a lot of foliage this year. I'm hopeful it'll do something next year
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Lilt of the Valley are strange plants and like Fairygirl says "they establish where the feel like it". There seems to be little middle ground: they either grow liike crazy, sit around doing very little, or die.
They usually only flower in the Spring so it's highly unlikely you'll get another flourish if you chop down the brown flowering stems.
They seem to do well in shaded or semi-shaded areas, particularly in moist soil conditions but from personal experience, they can survive in full sun or dry soils and can go beserk when you least expect them to - a real pain to keep on top of due to the rhizomes that can interwine with plant and shrub roots. This can be almost forgiven for their beauty and aroma though!
Keeping the soil around yours moist enough will help them a lot but as they've so few pests (due to their toxicity). It's hard to say anything other than keep trying
Moist shade, they thrive and more! here in my garden.
Thanks for responding everyone. Will see how it goes - or doesn't.