- The berries of the lily of the valley appear from August
- Cut off faded flowers
- Propagating lily of the valley by seed
- Caution: Lily of the valley berries are highly poisonous
In spring, the lily of the valley delights garden owners and nature lovers with its mostly white, intensely fragrant flowers. If these are fertilized, they produce red berries containing the seeds. The fruit of the lily of the valley is highly poisonous and a danger especially for children.
Caution! The red berries of the lily of the valley are poisonous
The berries of the lily of the valley appear from August
- Round red berries
- 6 to 12 millimeters in diameter
- three chambers per berry
- one to five seeds per berry
- Seeds 3 to 4 centimeters long, spherical
Bright red berries develop from the withered inflorescences of the lily of the valley in August. Each berry contains two to six seeds.
The berries are ingested by birds and the seed spreads throughout the garden.
Cut off faded flowers
Lily of the valley tends to spread profusely in the garden. This happens on the one hand via the underground rhizomes, which form runners in all directions. On the other hand, the lily of the valley reproduces via the seeds that develop in the red berries.
Lily of the valley is difficult to remove from a garden. One of the most important control measures is to cut off the faded inflorescences before the red berries ripen.
But do not just throw the inflorescences on the compost, as the seeds will not be destroyed there, but will germinate in the spring.
Propagating lily of the valley by seed
If you want to propagate lilies of the valley by sowing, pick the red berries in good time and scatter them at the desired location.
The seeds need a cold period. To grow lily of the valley in pots, place the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks.
Caution: Lily of the valley berries are highly poisonous
The toxins of the lily of the valley, which are also contained in the red berries in particular, are similar to those of the equally highly poisonous foxglove.
The red color of the fruit is very attractive to children. Eating just a few berries can cause symptoms of poisoning. If a child has eaten berries, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
Lily of the valley should not be planted in home gardens where small children or pets are left unsupervised.
tips
Due to the strong spread of the lily of the valley, the spring flower is very suitable as a ground cover under shrubs and deciduous trees. To prevent spreading via rhizomes, a rhizome barrier should be created when planting.