Convallaria majalis 'Géant de Fortin'

RHS Plant Profile

lily of the valley 'Géant de Fortin'

Synonyms

Convallaria majalis 'Fortin's Giant'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A vigorous, spreading rhizomatous perennial to 30cm high, with broadly ovate green leaves. Produces arching stems of fragrant, bell-shaped, white waxy flowers in late spring, followed by round red berries in autumn

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Convallaria are rhizomatous perennials with elliptic to narrowly ovate leaves and arching racemes of small, highly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers followed by red berries
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile, humus-rich moist soil in full or partial shade. Top dress with leaf mould in autumn

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe (remove flesh from seed prior to sowing), or by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Banks and slopes
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to swift moth caterpillar

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and leaf spots