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Common Name: Lily Of The Valley

General Information

Convallaria keiskei is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[, , ]. However, the toxic principle is very poorly absorbed when taken orally so poisoning is unlikely to occur[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Siberia.

Habitat

Highlands and mountain meadows all over Japan[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in almost any situation, including the dense dry shade of large trees[, ]. Prefers a position in semi-shade in a moderately fertile well-drained moist woodland soil[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
Plants are hardy to -20°c or lower[].
A good bee plant[].
A very ornamental plant, though it can become very invasive once it is established[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

The whole plant is cooked as a potherb or put in miso soup[, ]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
The flowers and flower buds are preserved in salt or mixed with leaf tea and drunk[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a ground cover in woodland shade or in a shrubbery[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, otherwise in late winter, in a cold frame[]. Germination, particularly of stored seed can be very slow, taking 2 - 12 months or more at 15°c[]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be allowed to grow on undisturbed in the pot for their first year. Apply a liquid feed during the growing season to ensure that the seedlings are well fed. Divide the young plants into individual pots when they die down in late summer and grow them on in pots in a shady position in a cold frame for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant[].
Division in September[]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.