Valerian is easily grown in average garden soils in full to part sun. Its preference is full sun, with consistently moist conditions, and soil consisting of fertile loam but can adapt to less ideal circumstances. It can be grown in part shade, however, the stems may flop. The more shade, the more this condition will increase. It is a non-native herb that has escaped cultivation and has spread primarily in the northern US as it prefers cooler weather and abundant rainfall. It spreads by rhizomes and seeds and can be weedy. It is listed as a noxious weed in Connecticut and Wisconsin. It is grown medicinally for the sedative effects of the drug valerian that is obtained from the roots. Other uses are in foods, perfumes and teas. An oil obtained from the leaves and root is used as a flavoring in ice cream, condiments and baked goods. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Can become weedy and invasive. Its presence in the wild may displace native plants. When used as a medicinal, prolonged use can lead to addiction. Adverse effects can include headaches, nausea, agitation, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire; Lobed
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Forms a clump of basal foliage from which a stem arises with pairs of leaves occurring primarily in the lower 1/2 of the stem. These leaves are odd-pinate with 4-9 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one. Leaves are up to 8 inches long with 4-9 pairs of deep lobes and a terminal lobe. The leaflets are linear with a smooth upper green surface and paler undersurface that is either smooth or slightly hairy. The leaves become aromatic when bruised.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Panicle; Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant, white or pale pink flowers that are arranged in umbels 2-5 inches across. Each flower measures 0.2 in. and blooms June through August.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Winged seeds are spread by the wind
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The tall, slender, sparsely-leaved stems are generally pubescent, especially at the nodes and hollow.