looduskalender.ee

The above-ground growing season of the lily-of-the-valley is only meant as a delight for the eyes. The whole plant is poisonous, not only the pretty, juicy fruit that contains two to six seeds. The plant is dangerously toxic to all mammals; only insects can pollinate the flowers and birds can distribute the seeds to new sites from their digestive tract. But propagation by seeds is an uncertain process for the lily-of-the-valley, and it widens its territory by spreading underground rhizomes. In a favourable habitat this perennial plant becomes larger by  some decimetres in a year.

 The lily-of-the-valley belongs to the lily family as does the Solomon’s seal, so they are related. The lily-of-the-valley is the national flower of Finland