European lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is in the agave and allies family (Asparagaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,979 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph European lily of the valley: observations by month (U.S.)
About European lily of the valley
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis /ˌkɒnvəˈleɪriə məˈdʒeɪlɪs/), sometimes written lily-of-the-valley, is a sweetly scented, highly poisonous woodland flowering plant that is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia, and Europe. Other names include May bells, Our Lady's tears, and Mary's tears. Its French name, muguet, sometimes appears in the names of perfumes imitating the flower's scent.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
European lily of the valley by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 310 | May | May–May |
| New York | 229 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 213 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 154 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 128 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 118 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 113 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 83 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 81 | May | Apr–May |
| Maine | 72 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 69 | June | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 61 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 56 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 50 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 39 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 35 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 34 | May | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 32 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 20 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 19 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Washington | 13 | May | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 7 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (agave and allies)
Ithuriel's Spear
Blue Dicks
common star-of-Bethlehem
Chaparral Yucca
Canada mayflower
Solomon's plume
Desert Lily
Small Camas
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph European lily of the valley?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is European lily of the valley most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, New York, Michigan.