Convallaria majalis 'Variegata', Variegated Lily of the Valley, is a cultivar that has a rather large number of synonyms and this can be somewhat confusing to the uninitiated: 'Albostriata', 'Albolineata', and 'Striata' can all be found in various offerings and they are essentially the same cultivar. When I first encountered it, I acquired it as 'Albostriata'. However, upon growing this plant you soon discover that its striations aren't really 'Alba'' at all but more of an 'Aurea'. When it is grown in a sunnier aspect the striations can sometimes become paler and more white but in most situations they are quite a strong golden yellow... so calling it 'Albostriata' or 'Albolineata' just seems plain wrong. 'Striata' is an accurate name and perhaps the one with the most merit but it is the name that is encountered the least and there are other cultivars that are striated: 'Lineata' has very thin striations and 'Vic Pawlowski's Gold' tends to have bolder broader striations. So although it is rather mundane, I finally decided to put all two ounces of my professional weight behind 'Variegata' but it is worth knowing that there are many other variegated cultivars of Convallaria majalis including 'Green Tapestry', 'Haldon Grange', 'Hofheim', 'Hardwick Hall', 'Cream da Mint', 'Landgraaf' and 'Silberconfolis' as well as the previously mentioned 'Lineata' and 'Vic Pawlowski's Gold'.

Ok, now all that ID is out of the way, we can enthuse about just how lovely this little plant is. The variegated stripes really do give it a strong eye-catching appeal and make it stand out from any surrounding foliage. It has a charm that is hard to put a finger on: diminutive, different, rather distinguished... precious somehow, the striations like seams of gold... It is however, relatively slow growing, the lack of chlorophyll in the stripes reducing its vigour - which also somehow enhances its sense of being delicate and precious and special... worth caring for and tending just that little bit extra...

Like the type species, the flowers have an exquisite fragrance.