How Much Does Lily Of The Valley Cost?

Published on October 14, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

The Lily of the valley carries strong symbolism in weddings and perfumery, and the flower’s small stature hides a delicate supply chain that raises per-stem charges when demand spikes in spring events. Buyers face two distinct markets, the florist market for cut flowers and the nursery market for pips, bareroots, or potted plants. Prices vary with season, pack size, and shipping distance.

Its cultural cachet keeps demand steady. Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet helped cement the flower’s luxury aura, and the look is still requested by couples who want a classic white bouquet that photographs cleanly and reads as formal, even in minimal stems and greenery. That symbolic resonance, paired with short harvest windows and fragile handling, explains the premium you see on invoices from wedding florists as well as on bulk-order websites.

Article Insights

• Typical loose stems cost $7–$12 each in 25-stem packs as of September 2025.
• Bridal bouquets commonly total $500–$1,200, driven by high stem counts and labor.
• Garden starts are inexpensive, for example 8 pips for $26.99 or 25 pips for $34.99.
• Expect extras, shipping $25–$60, plus design mechanics and delivery.
• Safer budget substitutes include freesia at about $2–$4 per stem and sweet peas at about $2 per stem.
• Keep plants and trimmings away from pets—lily of the valley is toxic.

How Much Does Lily Of The Valley Cost?

The cost for Lily of The Valley flowers vary from $2-$6 each for pips or bareroots, or $7-$12 per steam, while a bridal bouquet can go up to $1,200.

Cost of Plants, Bulbs, or Rhizomes

Garden buyers see far lower unit prices. Retail bundles of pips or bareroots frequently land in the $2–$6 each range when bought in small packs, with sale pricing well below that in larger lots. Representative offers include 8 pips for $26.99 at Breck’s ($3.37 each), a 6-pack for $27.99 at Home Depot’s Spring Hill line ($4.67 per plant), and 25 flowering pips for $34.99 at Easy to Grow Bulbs ($1.40 each) when in stock.

Potted plants from regional nurseries (e.g., Tennessee Wholesale Nursery) often list around $6–$10 per pot for small starters. That initial ticket is higher than bare roots, but many gardeners prefer a living pot for easier establishment and quicker first spring blooms. Over a few seasons, clumps expand, lowering your effective per-stem expense in home cutting.

Cut Flower Pricing (Bouquets & Floristry)

Across U.S. and online retailers, current list prices for loose cut stems typically sit around $7–$12 per stem when purchased in bunches of 25, with meaningful variation by vendor and week. Examples include $259.99 for 25 stems ($10.40 per stem) at Whole Blossoms, $200 for 25 at PetalDriven, and $180 for 25 at Fabulous Florals. Supply is tight. Stem counts are modest.

For live bare root perennial Lily of the Valley plants suitable for gardening, prices start at around $7 to $37 for small bundles of 3 to 12 plants, with larger sets or premium plants reaching about $30 to $40. For example, a 6-plant bare root bundle may cost roughly $30, while 12 plants can be priced near $37 (see Etsy). Browse broader options on Breck’s Lily of the Valley.

Fresh-cut Lily of the Valley flower bundles, often used for weddings and special occasions, typically cost from about $6 to $75 depending on the arrangement size and seller. Single stems usually come in bunches of 5 to 25 stems, with wholesale prices available for bulk buyers like floral designers. Delivery and seasonal availability impact pricing, with flowers recommended to be ordered 1 to 2 days before events for freshness (e.g., Greenery Market, Jessica’s Attic Floral).

Lily of the Valley is prized for its delicate, bell-shaped white flowers with a sweet, slightly spicy fragrance. It’s a popular choice for shade gardens and woodland settings due to its ability to thrive under trees and in cooler climates. The plants bloom in late spring to early summer and are deer-resistant, making them a low-maintenance but elegant addition to landscapes (Native Wildflowers, Whole Blossoms).

Real-World Price Examples

Below are current, verifiable examples that illustrate the spread between cut flowers and plants. See the notes column for pack size and quick math on per-unit value.

The cut-stem rows are a good proxy for wedding material cost, while the plant rows show how quickly per-unit pricing falls for home gardens.

Hidden add-ons to expect: overnight cold shipping on cut stems ($25–$60 typical), small-order fees, event surcharges in peak months, design mechanics and ribbon ($10–$40), plus local delivery for wedding day handoff. These extras vary by seller and date.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Easter lilies, corsages, or sunflowers.

What Affects the Cost?

Seasonality matters most. Stems are most available in late spring, and suppliers caution that heat sharply reduces vase life and raises shrink, which leads wholesalers to limit inventory and require preorders for event weeks. Fragility drives cost. Handling is slow.

Sourcing and shipping also move the needle. Some supply is imported from cooler regions and European growers, then moved quickly through the chain in refrigerated boxes. The number of viable stems per bunch can slip if weather runs hot, which is why reputable sellers set high minimums and suggest backup blooms for summer weddings.

Lily of the Valley in Weddings

Luxury status attracts premium pricing. Editors and trade outlets still point to royal bouquets, and that halo keeps lily of the valley on shortlists for classic, all-white designs that showcase perfume and texture (see Brides). When florists need 50 to 100 stems to achieve fullness, invoices climb fast.

Event pricing reflects labor as much as product. Industry guidance also notes higher labor percentages on bridal pieces, commonly 35–50% of the selling price for wired or taped work, which pushes lily of the valley bouquets into the luxury tier.

How to Grow It at Home

Home gardeners who buy pips and bareroots usually spend $20–$50 to start a patch, then enjoy years of spring bloom as clumps expand in shade. Authoritative profiles recommend moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, with minimal pruning and occasional division to manage spread. Over time, the effective cost per bloom falls close to zero.

The species is recorded across many temperate regions. Botanical databases confirm its growth habits and status, which helps explain why bareroot packs are inexpensive in fall and late winter, then sell out before spring. Buying during nursery promotions stretches budgets further for larger beds.

Alternatives to Lily of the Valley

If a bride wants the look or scent without the premium, florists often propose substitutes that reduce the per-stem bill. White freesia is a common swap, and current wholesale listings show about $1.90–$3.84 per stem depending on grade and vendor, which is far below lily of the valley. Stephanotis blooms, wired into bouquets for perfume and tradition, run about $2.42–$4.40 per bloom in bulk boxes. Sweet peas are another soft, fragrant option at about $2.00–$2.30 per stem in 10-stem bunches.

These swaps preserve a white palette and a refined, bridal feel. They also hold up longer in warm rooms, which keeps photos crisp and reduces day-of replacement risk.

Expert Insights & Floral Industry Tips

Preorder specialty stems several weeks ahead and be flexible on arrival day within the event week. Trade sources recommend higher labor allocations for small, intricate, hand-wired designs and call out delivery or setup fees that surprise couples if they only budget for flowers. One actionable rule of thumb, plan on a labor share in the 35–50% band for bouquets that require wiring or taping, and set a separate line for delivery and breakdown.

If pets are part of the household, remember that lily of the valley contains cardiac glycosides and is toxic to dogs and cats. Keep cut stems and plants out of reach, and avoid tossing trimmings where animals might graze.

Answers to Common Questions

How much do florists charge for a lily of the valley bridal bouquet?

Recent trade and editorial sources place most lily of the valley bridal bouquets in the $500–$1,200 range, driven by stem count and labor for small, fragile stems.

Is it cheaper to grow lily of the valley than to buy cut stems?

Yes. Starter packs at $20–$50 can establish a bed that multiplies for years, which drops the effective per-bloom cost well below even budget cut-stem pricing.

Are stems available year-round?

Not reliably. Peak availability is spring, with limited off-season imports and higher failure risk in warm weather, which raises costs and the odds of substitution.

What should I budget for shipping and extras on bulk stems?

Plan $25–$60 for cold overnight shipping, plus design mechanics and any local delivery to venue or getting-ready locations, which vary by florist and date.

Worked example, bridal nosegay: 60 stems at an average $9.50 equals $570, florist labor quoted at 40% adds $228, mechanics and ribbon $25, delivery $60, and local tax $70 for a total near $953 for a full, all-lily-of-the-valley bouquet. This aligns with luxury bridal norms reported by trade sources.

Sources used: Royal Horticultural Society, 2025; USDA PLANTS Database, 2025; Whole Blossoms, 2025; PetalDriven, 2025; Fabulous Florals, 2025; Breck’s, 2025; Easy to Grow Bulbs, 2025; Florists’ Review, 2024; ASPCA, 2025.