Lily of the Valley Tree (LA Urban Forest Program)

Lily of the Valley Tree

Clethra arborea

Summary ⁵

Clethra arborea, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley Tree, is a flowering plant in the genus Clethra. It is found in Macaronesia where it is native to Madeira, extinct in the Canary Islands, and considered an introduced species in the Azores. In Madeira its natural habitat is Laurisilva forest.

Description ⁶

It is an evergreen narrowly upright shrub or small tree, growing to about 6 m tall and 4 m wide. The foliage is dense and glossy, with the leaves up to 7–10 cm long. The flowers are small, white and fragrant, similar in appearance to those of lily of the valley, hence the common name; they are grouped in terminal panicles and bloom in early to mid summer. The plant is toxic to humans; it contains andromedotoxin which may cause diarrhea and even sudden death.