Valeriana officinalis
Overview
Valeriana officinalis, commonly known as "Common Valerian" or "Garden Heliotrope", is a tall, graceful perennial treasured both for its ornamental value and traditional herbal uses. With clusters of sweetly scented pale pink to white flowers and finely divided foliage, it’s a lovely addition to informal garden schemes. Suitable for everyday gardeners, it offers height, fragrance, and a touch of cottage garden nostalgia, while also attracting pollinators in abundance.
Key Features
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Botanical Name: Valeriana officinalis
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Common Names: Common Valerian, Garden Heliotrope
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Flower Colour: Pale pink to white, borne in dome-shaped clusters
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Foliage: Feather-like, deep green leaves forming an attractive basal rosette
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Height: 1.45m (4.8ft)
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Spread: 45cm (1.5ft)
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Flowering Period: June to August
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Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -10 to -5 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H4)
Why Grow Valeriana officinalis?
Valeriana officinalis is prized for its dual appeal as both a decorative and useful plant. In the garden, its tall stems and cloud-like flowers add vertical interest and a gentle, naturalistic charm. It's a classic choice for wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, or the back of a mixed border. Additionally, valerian has a long history in herbal medicine, particularly for its calming properties, although everyday gardeners will mostly appreciate its fragrance and pollinator-friendly blooms.
Ideal Growing Conditions
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Sunlight: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade
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Potted: grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged
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Soil: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates a variety of soil types, including clay and loam
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Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially in dry periods
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Feeding: Generally not required, but a compost mulch in spring supports healthy growth
Care and Maintenance
Valeriana officinalis is easy to grow and maintain. Cut back spent flower stems after blooming to keep the plant tidy and prevent unwanted self-seeding, unless you wish to allow it to naturalise. In late autumn or early spring, cut back the dead stems to the base. It may spread gently by seed or root, so divide clumps every few years to control size and promote vigour.
Pollinator Friendly
The fragrant flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making this plant an excellent choice for pollinator-friendly gardens. Its nectar-rich blooms help support wildlife throughout the summer months.
Garden Uses
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Back of borders and naturalistic planting schemes
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Cottage gardens and wildlife-friendly beds
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Wildflower meadows or informal herb gardens
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Suitable for larger containers or deep troughs
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Adds a vertical accent to mixed perennial plantings
Companion Planting Suggestions
Combine with other tall summer perennials such as echinacea, monarda, and phlox. For a soft, romantic effect, plant alongside lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis), catmint (Nepeta), or ornamental grasses.
Interesting Fact
Valeriana officinalis has been used for centuries in herbal medicine, particularly for promoting relaxation and aiding sleep. While it can be harvested for personal use, always research proper preparation and consult with a healthcare professional before consuming any herbal remedies.
Valeriana officinalis is a graceful, fragrant, and wildlife-friendly perennial that brings traditional charm and practical benefits to the garden. Whether you’re drawn to its height and structure, its pollinator appeal, or its herbal heritage, it’s a rewarding and easy plant for gardeners looking to enrich their planting with both beauty and purpose.
Buying Herbs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries our herbs are sold to plant out and grow on rather than instant culinary use. Unlike many supermarkets we grow them to help create a hardly plant with a good healthy root system that will grow to provide a good ‘clump’ producing to come.
Depending on the time of year you make your purchase herbs not look like the images on our website as they are trimmed back judiciously as required to prevent them from becoming leggy and untidy.
Herbs, as well as being beautiful sensory plants, are useful for home remedies and cooking. They smell lovely, look wonderful and you can use them—what could be better? There are two main ways of growing herbs, in containers or in the garden.
Planting and Conditions
The conditions required for planting varies between different herbs.
Basil, Bay, Caraway, Chives, Dill, Marjoram, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme all prefer well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade. Rosemary in particular will not survive being frozen during the winter months.
Chervil, Coriander, Mint and French Tarragon all prefer partial sun or shade, and like well-drained to dry soil.
Herbs would also benefit greatly from being planted in raised beds, which usually offer the perfect conditions for growth, as they have well-drained soil and are more likely to catch the rays of sun needed for most herb varieties.
Aftercare and Pruning
There is no need to prune your herbs excessively, because you are likely to be using them regularly after they have established anyway. If any dead foliage is found, just remove it to encourage future growth.
Water your herbs at regular intervals, especially if they are being kept indoors. Bear in mind that the majority of herbs prefer well-drained, dryer soil, so resist the urge to overwater them.
Some herbs die back in winter. These will look after themselves. Some more tender herbs can only be grown if brought inside during the cooler months.
Potential Issues
Specific to rosemary and sage, the beautiful but destructive rosemary beetle feeds on the foliage and flowers of host plants. Simply picking them off can be effective, otherwise the use of pesticides should be employed if the case is severe. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions with regards to pesticides and herbs for culinary purposes.
Slugs and snails are prominent pests on herbs. Simply picking them off or using a beer trap is an effective way of dealing with the problem should it become a prominent issue.
Slug pellets should only be used as a last resort to avoid harming birds and other wildlife.
Grey mould may also occur on some herbs. While there are no approved fungicides for use against grey mould, some products containing plant and fish oil blends can be used. They are unlikely to have much impact, and simply removing affected parts of the plant can be effective.
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