How often to water lily of the valley in California
In July in the Central Valley, established lily of the valley in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Lily of the valley is a shade loving perennial that spreads by underground rhizomes into a low, leafy carpet. Small white bells open in spring above the arching leaves, releasing a strong fragrance. It prefers soil that stays evenly moist through spring growth and tolerates dry shade once a colony is established. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten.
How often to water lily of the valley, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil dry an inch or two down beneath a spreading lily of the valley bed signals it needs water during spring growth
- Leaves turning pale or curling at the edges in a sunny spot can indicate the bed is too dry
- Yellowing leaves collapsing in a patch that stays soggy can indicate overwatering or poor drainage
- Leaf spot on damp, crowded foliage can accompany persistent overhead wetting
How to water it
- Water the bed of lily of the valley at the soil surface beneath the leaves rather than wetting the foliage overhead
- Soak the rhizome layer a couple of inches deep, then let the surface dry before the next watering
- Spread a thin layer of mulch over the bed to hold moisture without burying the emerging shoots
- Use rich, well-drained soil, working in compost where clay keeps the ground soggy
- Extend watering to the edges of the patch as the rhizomes spread into new ground
Through the seasons
A newly divided lily of the valley planting needs even moisture while its pips root into the bed. Established colonies spread on their own and lean on energy stored in the rhizomes. Leaves emerge in spring, flower, then die back to the ground by fall, so watering matters most from spring growth through the end of bloom. Winter rain typically covers the dormant season on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley. WUCOLS rates lily of the valley moderate water on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the south coast, South Inland, the high desert and the low desert.
In pots
Lily of the valley can grow in a wide pot kept in shade, with the pips set as deep as they would sit in the ground. Check the top inch of mix often in California summer heat, since a pot in filtered light still dries between waterings. Water until it drains through the holes, then empty the saucer so the rhizomes do not sit wet. Divide a crowded pot in fall to keep the colony vigorous. In winter the leaves die back and the pot needs only enough water to keep the mix from drying out completely.
- A year
- 17.11 gal per sq ft
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
Monthly water need by climate zone
Lily of the Valley: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | 0.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | 0.65 | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | 1.09 | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | 1.52 | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | 2.08 | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | 2.48 | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | 2.67 | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | 2.39 | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | 1.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | 1.18 | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | 0.56 | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | 0.34 | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | 17.11 | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like lily of the valley. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
FernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
DayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
BegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Calla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
SageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Bicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Garden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Carpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Snowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Orange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Greater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Hardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySimilar plants that need less water 16
Rated lower than lily of the valley in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.
AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
GeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
IrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Russian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
YarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Silver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Purple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Silvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Fern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
California Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Woolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Perennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes lily of the valley, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does lily of the valley need per day?
In July in the Central Valley, established lily of the valley needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for lily of the valley change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates lily of the valley separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Is lily of the valley safe to plant near pets or kids?
No. Every part of the plant is poisonous if eaten, and it is toxic to pets. Keep the bed away from areas where children or pets forage. Wear gloves when handling the plants.
When does lily of the valley flower?
Its fragrant bells appear in late spring to early summer. Bloom lasts about three weeks, so a leafy patch outside that period is not necessarily failing to flower.
Can lily of the valley grow in full sun?
It grows in full or partial shade, and neither source lists full sun. A shaded bed holds moisture longer between waterings. Move a struggling patch to a shadier spot instead of adding more water.
How do I stop lily of the valley from spreading?
Its rhizomes travel steadily once established, so a buried edging strip can contain the bed. Removing unwanted rhizomes takes more effort than adjusting water. Confine a new planting early rather than after it has spread.
Why are my lily of the valley leaves yellowing in early summer?
Some yellowing as the plant finishes blooming and heads toward dormancy is normal. Persistent yellowing in soggy soil points to drainage trouble instead. Compare the pattern before changing how you water.
Does lily of the valley need winter protection in California?
No special covering is typically needed where it is rated for the climate. The leaves die back on their own each fall. Check that winter rain has not left the bed standing in water.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Convallaria majalis, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf