Beware of the fine if you pick lily of the valley, too few people know the rules

Lily of the valley is the symbol of May 1st. Picking it in the wild can, however, earn you a hefty fine.

This Wednesday, there will be many French people in attendance. enjoy the holiday of Labor Day. And why not, this May 1st, à go à hunting lily of the valley for some of them. Points of sale for this plant abound à this period. If prices tend to rise increase – an additional 15% for five years according to the federation of artisan florists – the tradition continues. But more and more people are taking up the sport. picking in their garden or in the forest and some even take advantage of it afterwards to resell a few strands for sale. the rescue.

Be careful, however, there are certain rules for collecting lily of the valley as well as for making a profit from it. In principle, anyone can sell lily of the valley in the street & ;agrave; the precise date of May 1. Some municipalities sometimes require a free sales authorization to be issued by the town hall, or prohibit sales by minors. It is therefore preferable to provide information regarding the rules specific to each  commune.

As recalled by Service-public, certain installation locations are also prohibited, particularly in proximity of a florist, so as not to compete directly. It is also prohibited to obstruct road and pedestrian traffic or to set up a stand with tables and chairs. In addition, lily of the valley must be sold in sprigs, without roots and without packaging. Floral arrangements including lily of the valley are reserved for professionals. However, prices are not controlled: in 2023, they would hover around two euros per strand.

Concerning the picking of lily of the valley, it is also regulated. In his garden, there is obviously no problem. In the forest, you have to be more careful. Harvesting must be authorized by the forest owner, whether public or private. The National Forestry Office (ONF) reminds that collection must be "respectful of the forest environment". "Make sure à do not remove the bulb of the flowers so as not to prevent their renewal, thus specifies the organization.

You must also collect only the stems in flower and in "quantityé limited'". The ONF places the harvest cap from 10 to 100%. 15 stems per person, i.e. “what the hand can hold”. Criminal sanctions are provided for in the event of excessive collection. This can result in a fine of 135 euros. If the sales rules are not followed, the amount will be reduced. pay can reach more than 300 euros. Lily of the valley sprigs can also be destroyed or confiscated by law enforcement.