It's a common thing, I think a lot of people see red valerian and think it's the one used to help sleep, but it's wild valerian, Valeriana officinalis.
It grows on the edges of ditches here in NE Aberdeenshire and there is a lot of it in a particularly wet area of some heathland next to our property. It doesn’t occur amongst the heather as much, it is more concentrated around an area of reedmace. Fitting with your article, it prefers this damper soil compared to the drier land where the heather is. I love it and now I know that it is easy to grow from seed I will collect a small amount this year. Only this morning, walking our dogs along the track next to the area of valerian, I started to pick up the lovely scent, and I love that delicate shade of pink.
I planted a cultivar Valerianaofficinalis subsp. sambucifolia, (Elder-leaved) in a low raised bed over chalk substrate but soil is reasonably deep, mulched with manure & woodbark. Roses & Hydrangea grow there. So it is fairly dry and free-draining. It gets lots of sun, south-southwest facing. It has grown very big and bushy, with lovely flower spikes but the tall parts tend to flop about a bit. But we love it, for its' airiness and dainty floaty look.
I got this recently from a grower who had done the hard work already. Looking forward to seeing how it does here and hopefully propagating new plants from the original.
5 years ago I planted 2 in my wild garden alongside the brook, they're still there but haven't increased. Most plants thrive if o leave them to seed themselves, but Valerian hasn't so I'll try your method. Thanks for the tip.
I've never realised that red valerian is a different plant. That's the one I'm familiar with, pleased to have something new to look into
It's a common thing, I think a lot of people see red valerian and think it's the one used to help sleep, but it's wild valerian, Valeriana officinalis.
I actually just added it to my favourites a few hours before reading this post, to get it for next spring. What a coincidence!
It grows on the edges of ditches here in NE Aberdeenshire and there is a lot of it in a particularly wet area of some heathland next to our property. It doesn’t occur amongst the heather as much, it is more concentrated around an area of reedmace. Fitting with your article, it prefers this damper soil compared to the drier land where the heather is. I love it and now I know that it is easy to grow from seed I will collect a small amount this year. Only this morning, walking our dogs along the track next to the area of valerian, I started to pick up the lovely scent, and I love that delicate shade of pink.
I planted a cultivar Valerianaofficinalis subsp. sambucifolia, (Elder-leaved) in a low raised bed over chalk substrate but soil is reasonably deep, mulched with manure & woodbark. Roses & Hydrangea grow there. So it is fairly dry and free-draining. It gets lots of sun, south-southwest facing. It has grown very big and bushy, with lovely flower spikes but the tall parts tend to flop about a bit. But we love it, for its' airiness and dainty floaty look.
I got this recently from a grower who had done the hard work already. Looking forward to seeing how it does here and hopefully propagating new plants from the original.
5 years ago I planted 2 in my wild garden alongside the brook, they're still there but haven't increased. Most plants thrive if o leave them to seed themselves, but Valerian hasn't so I'll try your method. Thanks for the tip.
I can’t recall seeing it locally…