In many areas, lilies of the valley grow like weeds, but in others they are hardly found anymore. Although lilies of the valley are not yet among the extinct species in Germany, they are still protected in some parts of the country. Nobody will object to picking a bouquet. However, digging up rhizomes is prohibited.
Are lilies of the valley protected?
Lily of the valley is partly protected in Germany. In regions where they are rare, picking is prohibited. In other regions, small bouquets may be picked, but digging up rhizomes is generally prohibited.
Regulations for the removal of plants from nature
Like many plants that do not appear on the Red List of Threatened Species, lilies of the valley are protected. The regulations for the removal of root parts from the wild, for example for planting in your own garden, are clear: They may not be dug up without an important reason.
There is no important reason for digging up lilies of the valley. Spring flowers are literally growing in many gardens. If you want to plant lilies of the valley, you can either buy rhizomes (€21.00 on Amazon) in stores or simply get a few root pieces from your neighbor.
You can dig up and pick lily of the valley from your own garden as you wish.
Can you pick a bunch of lily of the valley in the forest?
Picking is not permitted in areas where lily of the valley is rare. The flowers reproduce not only via rhizomes, but also via seeds.
In regions where lily of the valley is still very common, you can pick a small bouquet.
In the wild, you should definitely not cut off more than a few stems for your own use. The sale of lilies of the valley picked in the forest is prohibited.
Attention: lilies of the valley are highly poisonous
If you have picked lily of the valley on the go, you should definitely wash your hands when you get home. Severe symptoms of poisoning only appear after consuming parts of the plant. But even small plant sap residues on the hands can cause mild nausea and allergies.
Also remember that the strong scent of lily of the valley can trigger allergies in sensitive people, which manifest themselves as severe headaches, skin redness and itching. If in doubt, leave the pretty spring bloomers where they grow and delight other people with their pretty flowers and scent.
Tip
Propagate lily of the valley is incredibly easy. You can use root parts, flower bulbs or seeds.
