1 named cultivar

‘Greenscape’Greenscape Pink False Lily of the Valley

groundcover

Pink False Lily of the Valley

The Story

Plant Bio

Reineckea carnea, Chinese sacred lily, is a low evergreen perennial from China and Japan, three to eight inches high and spreading a foot or more by creeping stems. Arching strap-like leaves up to a foot long form a dense mat, and short reddish-green stems carry clusters of small fragrant pink star-shaped flowers, followed by red berries that hold through winter.

It is one of the few evergreen groundcovers that flowers usefully in deep shade, and the flowers are genuinely fragrant — worth siting beside a path where the scent registers. Growth is slow, so plant closer than feels necessary and expect two or three seasons before it reads as continuous cover. The winter berries are a bonus few groundcovers offer.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense evergreen strap-leaved mat with fragrant pink flowers and persistent red winter berries.

One of the few flowering evergreen groundcovers that genuinely performs in deep shade.

Provides year-round cover at ground level; the berries persist into winter.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Groundcover

Height

5 inches

Width

15 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

China and Japan

Toxicity

Berries are not edible

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in dappled to deep shade.
Give it moist, humus-rich, freely draining soil.
Space plants closely; it is slow to fill in.
Water through the first two summers.
Site it near a path for the flower scent.
Divide congested mats in spring.

Pro Tip

It is slow, so plant at nine to twelve inches rather than the usual spacing and give it two seasons before judging it.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it in deep shade 🌑
Space plants closely 📏
Site it where the scent carries 👃
Keep the soil moist while it settles 💧

Don't

Expect fast cover ❌
Plant it in full sun ❌
Let it dry out in its first summers ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Enjoy

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen groundcover for deep shadeShaded path edging and small spacesWoodland and Asian-style planting

Companion Plants

Hellebore Autumn Fern HostaJapanese Forest Grass Sweet Box

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Pink False Lily of the Valley questions

What zones can Pink False Lily of the Valley grow in?

Pink False Lily of the Valley is hardy in USDA Zones 7–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Pink False Lily of the Valley deer resistant?

Yes — Pink False Lily of the Valley is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Pink False Lily of the Valley bloom?

Pink False Lily of the Valley typically blooms in summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Pink False Lily of the Valley need full sun?

Pink False Lily of the Valley does best in part shade.