A bouquet of lily of the valley in the room brings spring into the room with its intense scent. But you are not allowed to pick spring flowers everywhere because the plant is protected in some countries. What you need to consider when picking lilies of the valley.
Under what conditions can lilies of the valley be picked?
In Germany, lilies of the valley can only be picked in the wild in small quantities and without rhizomes, as they are protected. Wash your hands well after picking as the plant sap is poisonous and can cause allergies.
Where can you pick lily of the valley?
In some European countries, the lily of the valley is threatened with extinction. It is therefore protected and may not be picked or dug up in the wild.
In most regions of Germany, lily of the valley is still often found in the wild. However, digging up the rhizomes is not permitted. You can pick a small bouquet for your own use almost anywhere.
If you grow lilies of the valley in the garden, you can of course pick as many flowers as you like. These are usually cultivated forms that are not protected.
Caring for lily of the valley in the vase
- cutting flowers
- do not use water that is too cold
- Change water daily
- Don’t keep the vase too warm
- dispose of spent flowers safely
- Drain the water
Lily of the valley, even with good care, does not last long in the vase or in the spring arrangement. The shelf life can be extended by changing the water regularly and in a cool location.
The poison of the lily of the valley is transferred to the vase water. Pour the water away immediately when the bouquet has finished blooming.
Make sure that neither children nor pets come into contact with the lilies of the valley in the house. To be on the safe side, you should avoid lily of the valley in the vase in this case.
Wash hands after picking
Not only the lily of the valley berries contain many toxins, but also the plant sap that comes out when picking or cutting. It can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.
It is therefore better to pick lily of the valley with gloves (€9.00 on Amazon). Otherwise, you should wash your hands well afterwards.
Warn children not to pick lily of the valley, as the risk of poisoning is even higher for the little ones.
Tip
May, the main flowering time of the lily of the valley, is the wedding month par excellence. So it is not surprising that lily of the valley is very often used in bridal bouquets and for decoration. Breeds with particularly large flowers are usually selected for this purpose.
