lily of the valley

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a small woodland perennial whose nodding white bells release one of spring's most coveted fragrances. It's the flower of royal weddings, of May Day traditions across France and the British Isles, and the inspiration behind Christian Dior's iconic perfume Diorissimo. At Flower Icon, we work lily of the valley into limited-edition spring bridal bouquets and boutonnieres, sourced in short windows when the harvest peaks — typically late April through early June in the Bay Area.

Quick facts

How to care for cut lily of the valley

• Trim half an inch off each stem at a 45° angle, then place straight into cool water. Lily of the valley is sensitive to heat.
• Use clean room-temperature water — extreme temperature shock can shorten vase life.
• Keep arrangements away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and kitchen fruit bowls. Ethylene gas from ripening fruit dramatically reduces lifespan.
• Refresh water every 24–36 hours and re-cut stems each time.
• Skip floral preservative the first day — lily of the valley sometimes reacts; introduce it only after the first water change.
• Safety note: every part of the lily of the valley plant is toxic if ingested. Keep arrangements out of reach of children and pets.

Vase life

Four to seven days is realistic for cut lily of the valley, with peak fragrance in the first 48 hours. The bells open from the bottom of the stem upward. To stretch closer to a week and a half, store the arrangement overnight in a cool room (55–60°F) and rotate stems out of the cooler in the morning. Avoid mixing with daffodils — daffodils release a sap that significantly shortens lily of the valley's vase life unless the daffodils are conditioned separately first.

Bouquet pairing ideas

• Lily of the valley + garden roses — classic English-cottage romance
• Lily of the valley + sweet peas + ranunculus — airy spring bridal palette
• Lily of the valley + peonies — the quintessential May wedding pairing; both peak at the same moment
• Lily of the valley + lilac + snowball viburnum — monochromatic white-and-green textural luxury
• Lily of the valley + scabiosa pods — modern, sculptural, slightly wild

For pairing context, see our deep pages on peony and sweet pea, two of lily of the valley's most reliable spring companions.

Symbolism and meaning

Lily of the valley carries some of the richest symbolism of any spring flower. In the Victorian language of flowers, it represents "return of happiness" — making it a traditional choice for weddings (especially second marriages) and a meaningful gift for someone emerging from a difficult chapter. In Christian iconography, the tiny white bells are called "Our Lady's tears" and associated with humility and motherhood. French tradition observes May 1 as La Fête du Muguet, when sprigs are exchanged as good-luck tokens. The flower became globally iconic when Kate Middleton carried a tight nosegay of lily of the valley down the aisle in 2011, and again when Princess Grace of Monaco's 1956 bridal bouquet featured it as the central bloom.

When to order lily of the valley in San Francisco

Lily of the valley has a tight Bay Area window — we generally work with it from late April through the first or second week of June, depending on the season's weather. Because it's harvested in short windows from European growers and a handful of California specialty farms, we recommend reserving a bridal bouquet two to four weeks before the wedding date. For everyday gifting outside of wedding season, we'll occasionally feature it in seasonal arrangements when stems are available — sign up for the Flower Icon newsletter to hear when a new drop arrives.

Shop lily of the valley at Flower Icon

Our Forest Legend Bridal Bouquet pairs lily of the valley with rare seasonal blooms in a petite, jewel-like silhouette designed for spring brides. Flower Icon is a designer flower studio at 181 2nd Street in San Francisco. We offer same-day delivery on select bouquets across the city when ordered before 4 PM, and free local pickup within one mile of the studio. For lily of the valley specifically, we recommend pre-ordering during May for best availability.

Explore more flowers in our flower guide.