lily of the valley

American  

noun

lilies of the valley plural

1. a plant, Convallaria majalis, having an elongated cluster of small, drooping, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers.

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lily of the valley British  

noun

1. a small liliaceous plant, Convallaria majalis, of Eurasia and North America cultivated as a garden plant, having two long oval leaves and spikes of white bell-shaped flowers

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• lilies of the valley
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lily of the valley

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

It also said florists should open to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

These include motifs of a horse and corgi, references to art and theatre to mark "her enduring support for culture", as well as some of her favourite flowers - roses and lily of the valley.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

All three sections brim with short essays on various plant species such as rose, clover, iris, violet, daisy and lily of the valley, which Dior fashioned into silhouettes and blossoming decorative surfaces.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

The new fragrance oil comes in a 10-millimeter, travel-friendly rollerball bottle and is an olfactory delight thanks to 12 musks: lily of the valley, ambergris, oakmoss and amber woods, among them.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2024

Lily of the valley bore clusters of brightest red; but the false lily of the valley in the woods had berries that were speckled with brown.

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen