Valeriana

( vah - ler - ee - AH - nah )

At-A-Glance Information

Also called Valerian or Garden Heliotrope, this genus is filled with flowering perennial species which need full sun to partial shade and regular water for best performance. They are hardy plants native to Europe, South America and western Asia, and reach 5 feet tall when in bloom, spreading to 4 feet wide. Leaves are light green and flowers range in color from shades of white and cream to pink and red, forming in clusters at the ends of stems in summertime. They are great as filler in cut flower arrangements. Roots are strong-smelling and will attract cats. Grow Valeriana in mixed beds and borders, or in informal, cottage, prairie, meadow, or pollinator gardens. They also make great erosion control plants in sloped areas.

Valeriana Species and Varietals

The genus Valeriana is a member of the plant family Caprifoliaceae and includes 435 distinct species. The genus is named for Roman emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus, who is said to have used the plant medicinally. Valerian grows best in zones 1-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Valeriana celtica (Apline Valerian, Valerian Spikenard)
This species is native to mountainous areas and reaches between 2 and 6 inches tall. Flowers are cream, tipped with maroon. These plants were extensively harvested for export to Asia for use in perfumes until the 1930's, and roots are used in folk medicine.

Valeriana locusta (Mache, Cornsalad, Lamb's Lettuce)
These small, herbaceous plants are annuals, and are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, where it is consumed as a leafy green. Leaves are green. In warm climates, these plants tend to bolt. Flowers are blue-white and tiny.

Valeriana macrocera (Longhorn Seablush, White Plectritis)
These plants are native to California and Nevada and are commonly found in mountains, valleys, open steppe landscapes, and coastal habitats. It is an annual, and reaches between 24 and 32 inches tall when in bloom. Tiny flowers are white to pale pink.

Valeriana officinalis (Valerian, Garden Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Setwall, All-Heal, Cat's Love)
These plants reach up to 5 feet tall and produce sweetly scented pink or white flowers that are pollinated by flies. Roots and leaves cause a catnip-like response in cats, hence the common name Cat's Love. Leaves are green and toothed.

Valeriana pauciflora (Largeflower Valerian)
These plants are native to the eastern United States where it is found growing in forested stream valleys and lower sloped areas. These perennials require a high-quality habitat, including rich soil, to perform well. Flowers are white to light pink, and bloom from late spring to early summertime in rounded clusters above green foliage.

Valeriana pyrenaica (Capon's Tall Grass, Pyrenean Valerian)
This species of Valerian is native to Spain and France, and is a garden escapee in Ireland and Great Britain. These perennial herbaceous flowering plants reach up to 4 feet tall when mature. They prefer to grow in mountain ranges near bodies of water.

Valeriana rubra (Centranthus ruber) (Spur Valerian, Kiss-Me-Quick, Fox's Brush, Devil's Beard, Jupiter's Beard)
This species is known for its striking ornamental flowers and is native to the Mediterranean. Leaves are green, and plants flower profusely (though individual flowers are small), producing purple red clusters in spring and summertime. There are many varieties of this species with flower colors ranging from deep crimson to pale pink and lavender. Cultivar 'Albus' has white flowers.

Valeriana sitchensis (Sitka Valerian)
These plants are native to the northwestern United States, from Alaska down through Canada and Montana to northern California. They can grow in a variety of habitats, including moist mountain forests and meadows. Individua plants produce a stout, erect stem to 28 inches tall (maximally over 40 inches). Leaves vary in shape and size, and are often deeply lobed. Small flowers form in showy inflorescences of many white or pink-tinged blooms. Native American populations historically ate and cooked the roots of this plant.

Valeriana woodsiana (Beaked Cornsalad)
These plants, native to the United States, is an annual edible, flowering between the months of April and May. They typically reach about 2 feet tall, and produce white flowers in rounded clusters at stem tips. These plants prefer to grow in wooded forest regions, and can grow near bodies of water or in drier soils like ditches and pasture lands. They can grow in full sun to moderate shade.

Caring for Valeriana

Plant Valeriana in a space in the landscape that receives full sun to partial shade. They will flower most profusely with 6-8 hours of sun, but do appreciate some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Valerian will become floppy if grown in too much shade. Soil should be well-draining, moderately fertile, and have a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). They are tolerant of poor soil conditions, taking a more compact habit in leaner soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Valerian plants are considered to be drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought.

Taller varieties of Valerian, as well as plants grown in shady areas, will need some staking or other structure like netting to remain upright. This is recommended especially if Valeriana is being grown for cut flowers. No fertilizers are needed. Deadhead spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants (unless you are planning on collecting seed for propagation). After the plant dies back to the ground at the end of the growing season, cut back foliage to ensure an abundant bloom the following year. After a few years in the ground, if growth and flowering seem to be struggling at all, Valeriana plants may benefit from being divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Valeriana, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Valeriana, or Valerian, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Valerian, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Valeriana by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Valerian by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.