Lily-of-the-valley are slow but aggressive spreaders

A stand of lovely lily-of-the-valley grows next to the front steps of my mother's home in the Denbigh section of Newport News. The patch started with just a couple of plants two decades ago.

The 8-inch high plants - their dainty bell-shaped blossoms blowing in breezes - bump up against each other, crowd around nearby shrubs and even rub against the house's rough brown brick.

Mom does nothing to encourage their spread, which is one of the nice traits of lily-of-the valley - Convallaria majalis. These fragrant perennials are slow but aggressive spreaders. Two growing seasons ago, I took a couple plants home and put them in a shady, somewhat soggy environment. I still have only the two plants. Mom's site leans toward the dry side. Come spring, I think I will move mine to medium moist matter.

Lily-of-the-valley also can be forced or fooled into blooming indoors for special times - holidays, weddings, anniversaries.

For forcing, you can dig up pips in the garden from October to February, say Becky and Brent Heath, bulb specialists in Gloucester.

Before potting, store the pips - little ``eyes'' or shoots that appear along the roots - at 32 degrees Fahrenheit for one week. After potting them in a peat-based soil mix, keep them cold - 35-45 degrees F. - in a dark area for four weeks. Keep the soil moist by watering twice a week.

When sprouting begins after four weeks of cold, bring them into bright but indirect light at 60-70 degrees F. for forcing. The pips can be planted in the shade garden after danger of hard freeze in the spring.

Lily-of-the-valley pips will be among bulbs in the Heaths' summer catalog available in January. The Heaths formerly owned the Daffodil Mart, which they sold to White Flower Farm. They have now formed a new company called Brent and Becky's Bulbs. To contact the Heaths, call (804) 693-3966, e-mail bbheath@aol.com or see www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com .

TO GROW OUTDOORS

* Lily-of-the-valley likes full to part shade, well-drained, humus-rich soil. It's a good choice for slightly acidic soil. White or pale pink blooms appear early spring, rising above a carpet of 8-inch leaves. Plantings provide a fragrant and delicate ground cover, especially around the base of trees and in small shaded spots. Leaves appear late spring and die back mid-fall. Propagate by division early spring or fall; set pips about 4 inches apart. Mulch with compost, leaf mold or well-rotted manure and feed in fall. Dislikes hot weather.

Sources/photo: Extension services, Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center