Why You May Love Lilies Of The Valley In Your Living Room (But Be Aware Of This Big Drawback)

There's nothing quite like walking into a living room with a vase full of freshly cut blooms that fill the air with the scents of spring and add a softening touch to your decor. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a popular cut flower for its scent as well as its charming blooms. But before you welcome it into your home, there's a darker side to lily of the valley that you need to know: it is highly toxic for people and pets.  

Let's take a quick look at why it's popular, in spite of being poisonous. When it comes to decorating your home with flowers, finding bouquets that look good and smell wonderful is a bonus, as not all flowers have both characteristics going for them. Lily of the valley is a humble groundcover that fills shady areas with striking green foliage and petite bell-shaped flowers that adorn graceful stalks, reminiscent of fairies dancing in the woods. It is loved as a cut flower for its delicate charm, but also its radiant, floral scent.

As flowers, lilies of the valley don't need much fanfare to add charm to a room. Their leaves are just as attractive as their blooms, so you'll just need to pop a small bunch in a vase to create a beautiful display. But while they make popular gifts for Easter or Mother's Day, lilies of the valley are toxic flowers your pets could get into. 

Before you give in to the charms of these dainty, fairy-like bells and their intoxicating scent, you're probably wondering, just how toxic are they? Is it dangerous to touch lily of the valley? Is it worth having them in your home, or are the risks too great?

As long as you don't intend to snack on them, and you can keep them away from children and animals who would, lilies of the valley are safe to keep in your living room. They are usually nontoxic to touch, but some folks may experience skin irritations such as bumps, blisters, itching, swelling, or red rashes, so it's best to wash your hands after handling the plant just in case. 

However, ingesting any part of the plant can cause extreme illness and possibly even lead to death. The plants contain saponins and cardiac glycosides, which are compounds that affect the heart, as well as poisons that affect the rest of the body. Look out for cardiac symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, slowed beating, or fainting. It can affect your digestive system, causing diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting. Eating the plant can cause confusion, depression, lethargy, headaches, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Pets may be confused, vomit, or slip into a comatose state. If you notice any signs like these, seek immediate medical attention.