---
title: "Lily of the valley: vase life, season, meaning & care | Floreboard flower guide"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lilyvalley/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-31
publisher: Floreboard
---

# Lily of the valley: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists

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Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, family Asparagaceae) usually lasts 4–7 days in a vase. In season: Spring. Fragrance: strong. Typical role in a design: filler flower.

- **Botanical name:** Convallaria majalis

- **Family:** Asparagaceae

- **Accepted name:** Convallaria majalis L. [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:533487-1) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/7459480) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/XYLW)

- **Role in a design:** Filler flower

- **Vase life:** 4–7 days

- **In season:** Spring

- **Fragrance:** Strong

- **Colours:** [white](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/white/)

- **Meaning:** The return of happiness

- **Type:** Cut flower

- **Pets:** Highly toxic to cats — even pollen or vase water can be dangerous

## Cut flower commercial monograph

    🌿 Taxonomy & Origin

- **Official name:** Lily of the valley

- **Botanical name:** Convallaria majalis

- **Family:** Asparagaceae

- **Aliases:** lilyofthevalley

- **Native origin:** Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide

    🌸 Morphology & Visuals

- **Growth habit:** Herbaceous perennial or biennial with sturdy, upright flowering stems.

- **Stem length:** 50–70 cm

- **Natural colours:** White

    ⏳ Phenology & Harvest

- **Natural bloom:** Natural flowering in spring

- **Commercial supply:** Peak in spring

- **Harvest stage:** Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).

    ✂️ Postharvest & Floristry

- **Vase life:** 4–7 days

- **Cold storage:** Sensitive to cold: keep above 12°C to prevent chilling injury and blackening.

- **Special care:** Often sold with roots attached: keep them moist and it lasts longer. Delicate and expensive, mostly used in bridal work. Every part is poisonous, vase water included — wash your hands.

- **Application:** Serves primarily as Filler flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.

- **Market notes:** Often sold with roots attached: keep them moist and it lasts longer. Delicate and expensive, mostly used in bridal work. Every part is poisonous, vase water included — wash your hands.

For florists

## Try Lily of the valley in a client design

We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers — Lily of the valley included — and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits.

Try it as a design — free

## Care and conditioning

- Often sold with roots attached: keep them moist and it lasts longer. Delicate and expensive, mostly used in bridal work. Every part is poisonous, vase water included — wash your hands.
- Lily of the valley is highly toxic to cats: never send or place it in a home with cats — pollen and vase water are dangerous too.
- Lily of the valley is short-lived (about 4–7 days): when mixed with longer-lasting stems, deliver the same or next day.
- Lily of the valley is strongly scented and is a poor fit for hospital visits or condolences.

## Where it fits

| Use |   | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✕ | Strongly scented — it can bother patients and roommates. |
| Weddings | ! | Lasts only about 4–7 days — make up the day before or on the day. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✕ | Strong fragrance competes with food and wine. |
| Homes with cats | ✕ | Highly toxic to cats — pollen and vase water too. Choose something else. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ! | Short-lived (about 4–7 days) — deliver the same or next day. |

## Pairs well with

These are available at the same time as lily of the valley and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:

| Flower | Role | Vase life |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Tulip](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/tulip/) | Focal flower | 4–7 days |
| [Iris](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/iris/) | Focal flower | 4–6 days |
| [Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) | Focal flower | 5–7 days |
| [Sweet flag (acorus)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/acorus/) | Foliage | 7–14 days |
| [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |

## Substitutes

When lily of the valley is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Chamomile](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/chamomile/) | 5–7 days | Spring, Summer | Light | — |
| [Sweet pea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/sweetpea/) | 4–7 days | Spring | Strong | mildly toxic |
| [Grape hyacinth (Muscari)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/muscari/) | 4–7 days | Spring | Light | — |
| [Freesia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/freesia/) | 5–8 days | Winter, Spring | Strong | — |

## FAQ

### How long does lily of the valley last in a vase?

Usually 4–7 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.

### When is lily of the valley in season?

In season in spring; at other times prices can run high or quality can vary.

### How do you keep lily of the valley fresh?

Often sold with roots attached: keep them moist and it lasts longer. Delicate and expensive, mostly used in bridal work. Every part is poisonous, vase water included — wash your hands.

### What does lily of the valley symbolise?

The return of happiness. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures.

### Is lily of the valley toxic to cats or dogs?

Highly toxic to cats — even pollen or vase water can be dangerous.

### What can I use instead of lily of the valley?

Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Chamomile, Sweet pea, Grape hyacinth (Muscari), Freesia.

## Related guides

- [Cut flower care and conditioning guide](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/cut-flower-care/)
- [Pet-safe flowers for cats and dogs](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/pet-safe-flowers/)
- [Flowers for a hospital visit: what to send and avoid](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/hospital-flowers/)
- [Fragrant cut flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/fragrant-flowers/)
- [Cut flower vase life chart](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-vase-life/)
- [Flower meanings: the language of flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-meanings/)
- [Spring flowers in season](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/seasonal-flowers/spring/)

## In season at the same time

[Tulip](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/tulip/) · [Chamomile](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/chamomile/) · [Tree peony](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/peony/) · [Peony (herbaceous)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/herbaceous-peony/) · [Silver wattle (mimosa)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/acacia/) · [Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/amaryllis/) · [Bupleurum](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/bupleurum/) · [Canterbury bells](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/campanula/)

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Reference values from common trade practice. Real results vary with variety, origin and conditioning. Pet toxicity follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants) · [About our data](https://floreboard.com/en/about/)