Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerConvallaria majalis
Lily of the valley: when it's in season in Australia
Lily of the valley is in season in Australia from September to October. Outside those months most stems are imported, usually from Netherlands.Being confirmed
- Right now
- In season in September
- Season
- September to October
- Vase life
- 4 to 6 days
Season by state
Lily of the valley has one of the shortest seasons of any Australian cut flower, roughly late September to mid-October. It needs a cold winter, so local stems come from cool-climate growers in Victoria and similar areas. Tiny white bells on short stems carry a big scent, and it is a classic in bridal bouquets. Outside those few spring weeks, stems are imported and can be very dear. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so keep it away from children and pets.
Where to buy lily of the valley
Among the most expensive stems per bunch, especially imported out of season. Being confirmed
How to choose good lily of the valley
Check the bells closely. They should be crisp and pure white or pale pink, with no brown edges or bruising, and spaced evenly up a stem that stands upright. If the stems come with a leaf, it should be glossy and unmarked. The scent should be strong even from a little distance. One small bunch is enough for a bud vase or two. The few weeks of local supply are the least dear time to buy, so plan around early October if you can. For a wedding, order well ahead and have a backup flower in mind in case the season is short.
Grown here or imported?
Lily of the valley is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Lily of the valley is a European woodland plant that spreads by underground rhizomes, sold as pips. It needs a properly cold winter and a cool, shady, damp spot with humus-rich soil, so in Australia it grows mostly in cool-climate gardens and small specialist plots in places like the Dandenong Ranges and Tasmania. Being confirmed Bulb nurseries have sold pips here for decades for spring flowering. Stems in other months are imported from growers who hold pips in cool stores and force them into flower in glasshouses. Gardening Australia calls it tricky to grow, which helps explain why local supply is so small.
Out of season, florists bring in imported stems, mostly from Netherlands. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.Being confirmed
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- pale pink
Varieties to ask for
- Convallaria majalis
- Rosea (pink)
Vase life
4 to 6 days Being confirmed
Making it last
- Buy when the first bell is turning from green to white
- Recut the short stems and keep them in fresh, cool water
- Keep somewhere cool and out of direct sun
- Wash your hands after handling, as all parts are poisonous
- Keep well away from children and pets
Using it at home
Lily of the valley is small, so give it a small vessel: a bud vase, a little glass or even an egg cup for a few stems. For the classic bridal look, tie a tight posy and wrap its own leaves around the outside. It mixes well with other scented spring flowers in season at the same time, such as sweet peas and freesias, or with white ranunculus for a green and white bunch. The bells open from the bottom of the stem up and brown at the edges as they age, which is your cue to replace them.
Meaning and birth month
Traditionally a symbol of the return of happiness.
Lily of the valley is a traditional birth flower for May.
Where to see it growing
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When is lily of the valley in season in Australia?
Locally grown lily of the valley has a very short season, from about late September to mid-October. At other times of year it is imported, if you can find it at all.
Why is lily of the valley so expensive?
Stems are tiny, the local season lasts only a few weeks and out-of-season stems are imported. Demand from weddings stays high all year, which keeps the price up.
Is lily of the valley poisonous?
Yes. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, including the vase water. Keep it away from children and pets and wash your hands after arranging it.
Can you grow lily of the valley in Australia?
Yes, in cool climates. Plant pips in a shady, damp spot with humus-rich soil and plenty of leaf mulch and it will flower in spring. It struggles in warm, humid places like Brisbane, and in Sydney winters are often not cold enough for a good show. Being confirmed Gardening Australia describes it as tricky to grow.
Is there a pink lily of the valley?
Yes. The form known as Rosea has pale pink bells and is sold as pips by some Australian bulb nurseries. Being confirmed Cut stems of the pink form are much harder to find than white at florists, so if you want it for an occasion, ask well ahead and be ready to use white instead.
