European lily-of-the-valley, muguet

Plants forming dense colonies. Leaves 15–40 × 2.5–5 cm; petiole 8–24 cm; blade green until frost, veins and veinlets relatively faint in transmitted light, 9–20 cm. Scape 1–2.3 dm. Inflorescences 1/2 length of to equaling proximalmost sheathing leaves; bracts broadly lanceolate, 4–10 mm, shorter than pedicel. Flowers: tepal midribs white; pedicel 7–12 mm. 2n = 38.

Flowering early--late spring. Disturbed, open areas; 0--1500 m; introduced; N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask.; Ala., Ark., Conn., D.C., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis.; expected elsewhere; Eurasia.

Variety majalis is widely cultivated and naturalized throughout most of eastern North America and elsewhere near cemeteries, gardens, roadsides, and thickets. Rhizomatous spread results in highly dense, ground-covering carpets. Pink and double-flowered horticultural forms are known.