Lily Of The Valley Facts: Here's All You Need To Know!

Lilly of the valley is a bell-shaped white flower that blooms in the spring.

This perennial herb has a sweet smell and clear translucent round bead that makes it very beautiful. This beauty is also reputed for its gorgeous variegated foliage. It is also used as wedding bouquets by royal brides such as Queen Victoria and other celebration decorations.

The flowering plant belongs to the asparagus family with six white tepals and double flowers. It prefers warm summers to grow. This plant is found in rich deciduous woodlands, tamarack bogs, shaded garden areas, dry and young forest heaths, pioneer cemetery prairies, and abandoned homestead sites.

It is also found in moist, organically rich, fertile, and well-drained soils. These scented flowers are used for medical purposes as well as cosmetics. However, the plant is highly poisonous. All the parts of this beautiful plant are highly toxic. It would be best if you did not ingest the bulb, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or berries.

History

Lily of the valley was distributed to North Asia and Northern America and avoided mainly by the Atlantic and Mediterranean margins. However, according to folklores, flowers of the asparagus family were sent forth from the tears of Eve after she was thrown out of the Eden Garden.

In America, the lily of the valley is one of the most celebrated flowers as it grows in mid-to-late April and preserves its blooms for the whole of May.

According to legends, the nightingale would come to the garden every night to sing. As the lily was shy, she used to hide from the nightingale. In the end, the nightingale grew desolated and flew away. The lily waited for the nightingale to return, but she grew lonely and stopped blooming. The nightingale returned in May, and the lily began to bloom again.

Symbolism

In 1967, the lily of the valley became the national flower of Finland and Yugoslavia's national flower. Lily of the valley is considered a symbol of humility in religious paintings and is also said to signify the comeback of Christ.

It was accustomed for men in France to give bouquets of lilies of the valley as tokens of endearment in the early 20th century. They give their presents, per customs, on the first day of May. The delicate flower was considered as a symbol of romance, and in its absence, men used to send romantic postcards with detailed drawings of the flower along with good luck wishes. The ritual is still practiced by sending Fête du Muguet cards.

With another name: 'ladder to heaven' comes another story. According to medieval monks, the flower was considered a symbol of steps to heaven. They observed the flower and the way it grew evenly up the shoot, which reminded them of steps to heaven.

The lily of the valley symbolizes the return of happiness in the language of flowers. The reason behind this sign is the story of the nightingale and the lily of the valley we discussed earlier. Moreover, it is also phrased in some European languages as lily of the valleys, which is not the correct name. European herbalists also use the exact phrase to refer to a specific plant species.

Medical Purpose

It is often said that all parts of the flowering plant are likely to be poisonous, but it has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. The root, dried flower tips, and underground stem (rhizome) of the plant are used to make medicines. It consists of 38 cardiac glycosides, malic acid, citric acid, and flavonoids.

This pretty flowering plant has substances that have activity on the heart muscle. It is used for heart problems, including irregular heartbeat and heart failure. It helps patients to recover from strokes, reduces high blood pressure, and soothes the nerves. Russians use this perennial herb for epilepsy, convulsions, dizziness, apoplexy, palsy, and several forms of dropsy.

It is also used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), weak contractions in labor, kidney stones, fluid retention (edema), and resulting paralysis, leprosy, blurred vision, and eye infections (conjunctivitis).

Botanists of ancient times also said that the lily of the valley is also used to increase the strength of the brain and improve weak memory. The ointment made from the plant is used to heal burns and wounds. Its flower tonic is used as a skin astringent; its oil is used to ease mental problems, depression, and headaches.

Uses In The Cosmetic Industry

For centuries, the lily of the valley is not only being used for medical purposes but also the cosmetics. It is especially useful in treating skin scars and ailments. Ointments made from the plant treat many types of wounds and also the scars it leaves in a short period. It is one of the main ingredients used in scar removal creams to work as a skin astringent.

The flower is also commonly utilized to medicate mild burns for quick healing and prevent unpleasant scarring afterward. In order to lighten one's skin tone, the water in which the lily is soaked is used for bathing. The water is often called 'aqua aurea.' It is also used as skin astringent sometimes.

Also known as Little May Bells, they are used to alleviate depression and uplift the mood in aromatherapy. In fact, the essence of the lily's oil regenerates skin cells and makes the skin is smooth, blemish-free, and supple. The flower regulates pH levels with its alkalizing property and makes the skin glow naturally.

The ointment from the roots of the woodland flowering plant can prevent scarring and is often used in skin products. It perhaps leaves an unwrinkled, cooling sensation. The essential oils spread throughout the layer below the skin, boosting blood circulation and nourishing capillaries. Apart from skin, it is also helpful in soothing the scalp, stimulating hair growth, and making it thick and shiny.

Moreover, many fragrances or perfumes are based on the flower, such as Penhaligon's 'Lily of the Valley,' 'En Passant' by Olivia Giacobetti, 'Muguet de Bois' by Henri Robert were produced using the lily of the valley. Significantly, the French firm Dior in 1956, manufactured scent extracted from the flower because it was the favorite flower of Christian Dior.

However, knowing that most of the parts of potted plants are poisonous, it is advised not to eat any of them.

FAQ's

What is an interesting fact about the lily of the valley?

The lily of the valley is often viewed as a symbol of humility and rebirth. It is presumed to stop evil spirits from entering gardens.

What does the lily of the valley do to you?

The pretty plant of lily is probably unsafe. If consumed, it can cause various side effects such as abnormal heart rhythm, nausea, decreased consciousness, vomiting, visual color disturbances, responsiveness, and headache.

How much lily of the valley is poisonous?

Lily of the valley contains approximately 38 different cardenolides or cardiac glycosides that disrupt the heart's regular activity and irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Every part of the plant is as poisonous as others and can be a fatal dose in pets and young children.

What color is the lily of the valley?

The lily of the valley is ubiquitous white (rarely pink) in color, but one can also find it in shades of pink, starting from light pink to deeper rose. It is the only species found in a blue color called LilyAmbizu, with purple leaves and more.

What is the lily of the valley used for?

Despite being toxic, the woodland flowering plant is used for medical purposes as well as cosmetics. It has numerous health and beauty benefits, such as strengthening the brain, curing palsy, and lightening skin tone. It can also be used for curing valvular cardiac diseases, congestive heart failure, mental and neurotic problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It helps lessen chest pain, reduce blood circulation rate, reduce abdominal pain, keep digestion healthy, treat paralysis, and more. It was also used as a bridal bouquet at Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding.

What does the lily of the valley mean in the Bible?

Lily of the valley is mentioned 15 times in Bible. Its meanings include transformation, beauty, devotion, purity, rebirth, and fertility. Christians represent it as the Second Coming of Christ.

What is the smell of lily of the valley?

The fragrance of the lily of the valley is spring-like, fresh, watery, light, crisp green, slightly jasmine, with hints of lemon and floral.