In spring, the lily of the valley delights garden owners and nature lovers with its mostly white, intensely fragrant flowers. If these are fertilized, red berries containing the seeds are produced. The fruit of the lily of the valley is highly poisonous and a danger, especially for children.
What do lily of the valley berries look like and are they poisonous?
Lily of the valley berries are red, round fruits with a diameter of 6-12 mm that emerge from fertilized flowers from August onwards. They contain 1-5 spherical seeds and are highly toxic, especially to children and pets.
Lily of the valley berries appear from August
- Round red berries
- 6 to 12 millimeters diameter
- three chambers per berry
- one to five seeds per berry
- Seeds 3 to 4 centimeters long, spherical
Bright red berries develop from the faded inflorescences of the lily of the valley in August. Each berry contains two to six seeds.
The berries are picked up by birds and the seeds are spread throughout the garden.
Cut off spent flowers
Lily of the valley tends to spread widely throughout the garden. This happens via the underground rhizomes, which form runners in all directions. On the other hand, the lily of the valley reproduces via the seeds that arise in the red berries.
Lilies of the valley are difficult to remove from a garden. One of the most important control measures is to cut off the spent inflorescences before the red berries ripen.
Don't just throw the inflorescences into the compost, as the seeds will not be destroyed there but will germinate in spring.
Propagate lily of the valley by sowing
If you want to propagate lily of the valley by sowing, pick the red berries in good time and scatter them at the desired location.
The seeds need a cold phase. To grow lily of the valley in a pot, place the seeds in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
Caution: lily of the valley berries are highly poisonous
The toxins in the lily of the valley, which are particularly contained in the red berries, are similar to those in the equally highly poisonous foxglove.
The red color of the fruit is very attractive to children. Eating just a few berries can cause symptoms of poisoning. If a child has eaten berries, seek medical advice immediately.
Lily of the valley should not be planted in home gardens where small children or pets are unattended.
Tip
Due to the rapid spread of lily of the valley, the spring flower is very suitable as a ground cover under shrubs and deciduous trees. To prevent spread via rhizomes, a rhizome barrier should be created when planting.