May Day: 5 Unusual Facts About Lily Of The Valley

Lily of the valley, also known as "May bells," is a spring plant whose small white flowers are recognizable by their bell shape and delightful fragrance. Used in pharmacology and perfumery, this plant is mainly associated with May 1st, Labor Day. Paradoxically, it is given as a good luck charm even though it is highly toxic. Here are 5 unusual facts you might not know about lily of the valley.

Lily of the valley always carries its flowers on the same side.

Lily of the Valley is a perennial herbaceous plant typical of temperate regions. It is found in the wild in forest undergrowth, hedges, and mountain pastures, up to 2000 meters above sea level. In gardens, it thrives in moist and shaded environments.

Each stalk of the plant, called a "scape," always exhibits the same botanical characteristics. Thus, a Lily of the Valley stalk is always surrounded by two leaves and bears its flowers on one side. This is the first of 5 unusual facts about this plant.

It doesn't necessarily bloom at the beginning of May.

In nature, the blooming of Lily of the Valley spans from April to July.

The legend that this plant blooms for May 1st is rarely confirmed, although the graceful clusters of bell-shaped flowers are symbolically linked to this date and Labor Day.

This plant, which symbolizes the return of happiness in the language of flowers, does not always recur on a fixed date...

This plant is toxic, and potentially deadly.

Lily of the valley, which thrives in limestone soil, can be easily cultivated in gardens, provided that the area is cool and shaded. If you are considering replanting this lucky charm plant near your home, exercise caution!

This beautiful ornamental plant is dangerous for children and pets due to the high toxicity of its berries. The delicate bell-shaped flowers conceal a very high toxicity; all parts of the plant are extremely toxic, even potentially fatal. This is another unusual fact to be aware of.

In the fall, lily of the valley produces small red berries that are very tempting but can slow down the heart rate and increase blood pressure when ingested. However, used in the right dosage, this plant has interesting pharmacological properties for the treatment of certain heart conditions.

In perfumery, synthetic lily of the valley is used.

In French, the word "muguet" appears in texts around 1200 in the form "mugue" or "musguet". The name of this flower is probably derived from "musk", due to its characteristic fragrance.

Although lily of the valley scent is very common in perfumery and the soap industry, the fragrant bells are rarely used in their natural form.

This fragrance, which contributed to the success of the perfume "Diorissimo" in 1956, is often used as a heart note in women's perfumes... but in a synthetic form.

Everyone can sell it on May 1st.

To meet the high demand for May 1st, lily of the valley is intensively cultivated in the Nantes region.

The sale of this flower in the streets dates back to around 1936. Another unusual fact in France: florists do not have a monopoly on its sale on Labor Day! Every year on May 1st, individuals and associations are allowed to sell lily of the valley.

However, certain rules must be respected. The sale of this plant is only authorized on May 1st, and only if the bells have been picked in the forest. Individuals can only sell small quantities, which must be unpackaged and not mixed with other flowers. They are prohibited from setting up a stand near a professional florist or obstructing traffic.