About
Convallaria majalis 'Géant de Fortin' is a robust perennial that grows up to 30 cm tall, characterized by its wide, oval green foliage. In late spring, it sends up curved stems adorned with clusters of fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers. By autumn, these are replaced by glossy red berries. The plant spreads through rhizomes, making it an effective ground cover.
About the genus
Convallaria consists of rhizomatous perennial plants characterized by their elliptic to narrowly ovate foliage. These plants produce arching racemes that bear small, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, which are succeeded by clusters of red berries.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
- Fragrance
- Flower
- Toxicity
- 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
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a fertile, humus-rich moist soil in full or partial shade. Top dress with leaf mould in autumn
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- 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
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to swift moth caterpillar
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey moulds and leaf spots