I have an area that I want Lily of the valley to run rampant, would also like a possible companion plant?

Anyway, if I plant the pips here in the midwest right now, will the plants come up this summer?

How would it work?

I guess maybe they sell the whole plants as well but this will be a large area.

Thanks very much.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:55:45 -0700 (PDT), mkr5000
wrote:

I have an area that I want Lily of the valley to run rampant, would also like a possible companion plant?

Lily of the valley are invasive and exclusionary... most similar size
plants will likely be crowded out... plant shrubs/trees.

Anyway, if I plant the pips here in the midwest right now, will the plants come up this summer?

With proper conditions will typically come up shortly after planting

I guess maybe they sell the whole plants as well but this will be a large area.

What's a large area... is that like large breasts?

mkr5000 wrote:
I have an area that I want Lily of the valley to run rampant, would also like a possible companion plant?

Anyway, if I plant the pips here in the midwest right now, will the plants come up this summer?

How would it work?

I guess maybe they sell the whole plants as well but this will be a large area.

transplanting while the plant is dormant is a
good time to do it.

if you are buying plants there is a good chance
that you can divide them in half or fourths and
still have them take. depends upon how large the
plant is to begin with. take one apart when you
buy them and see what you've got before chopping.

i would not companion plant anything with them
for a season or two. this fall i'd poke random
patches of spring bulbs in (crocus and the early
spring dutch irises) to have some variety.


songbird

Brooklyn1 writes:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:55:45 -0700 (PDT), mkr5000
wrote:

I have an area that I want Lily of the valley to run rampant, would also like a possible companion plant?

Lily of the valley are invasive and exclusionary... most similar size
plants will likely be crowded out... plant shrubs/trees.

Our lily of the valley don't seem to grow thick enough to crowd anything
out. But they don't stay in place either. We have some coming up
through Vinca. I don't think I'd plant them that way on purpose though.


--
Dan Espen

Thanks for the info -- I have a large area near the northside (shady) of my house and the soil is crap. Every time it rains it hits the dirt and splashes it's magic all over my foundation and some raised planters. It's a wooded area near there and grass won't grow, nor do I want it to, so the invasive part doesn't bother me. My Grandma used to have Lily of the Valley and I like how robust the little plants are, thought it would be a good choice for this "rain buffer" idea. Thought of ajuga but it's taking too long to spread.

Pips seem to be a real bargain so I'll plant a lot of them.

how do you plant the "pips"? is it obvious when I get them? like roots on them?

or a direction up like a bulb?

mkr5000 wrote:

how do you plant the "pips"? is it obvious when I get them? like roots on them?
or a direction up like a bulb?

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/g-46-...ing-guide.aspx