American lily-of-the-valley

Convallaria pseudomajalis W.Bartram

American lily-of-the-valley has its own Appalachian identity. The supplied name Convallaria majuscula is now treated by Kew as a synonym of Convallaria pseudomajalis. Older North American floras place the same plant under Convallaria majalis variety montana. Those names lead to a woodland perennial whose small groups and scattered shoots can look quite different from a dense garden patch of European lily-of-the-valley. Kew POWO: Convallaria majusculaFlora of North America 26, p. 206: Convallaria majalis var. montana

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Botanical name

Kew places Convallaria majuscula Greene in synonymy under Convallaria pseudomajalis W.Bartram, an accepted American species in Asparagaceae. Kew POWO: Convallaria majusculaKew POWO: Convallaria pseudomajalis

Recognizing the plant

Broad leaves have conspicuous veins and veinlets when held against the light. In Flora of North America they are described as reaching twenty to fifty centimetres overall, with blades five to thirteen centimetres wide. Flower clusters rise no more than about halfway up the nearest leaves. Long, narrow bracts equal or exceed the individual flower stalks, and the floral segments have green midribs. Leaves can yellow in late summer. Flora of North America 26, p. 206: Convallaria majalis var. montana

Bloom window

Appalachian United States

In that Appalachian treatment, flowering occurs in mid to late spring. Flora of North America 26, p. 206: Convallaria majalis var. montana

Native range

Its native home is the Appalachian region of the east-central United States. The flora records open acidic mountain slopes, sandy woodland and coves, chiefly at elevations of 800 to 1,700 metres. Kew POWO: Convallaria pseudomajalisFlora of North America 26, p. 206: Convallaria majalis var. montana