Regulated in some states
This plant is listed as a noxious or regulated weed in parts of the US, where it may be illegal to grow. Check your state and local regulations before planting it.
Valerian
Valeriana officinalis
herbValerian is a tall, hardy perennial herb topped in early summer with rounded clusters of sweetly fragrant white-to-pink flowers on stems reaching 4 to 5 feet. It is grown both as an old-fashioned medicinal, whose root is used for sleep, and as a pollinator plant that draws bees and beneficial insects.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~18 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
12-18 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Surface-sow seed (needs light)
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Moist, fertile, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Light feed in spring
Fertilizer
Compost or balanced
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors about eight weeks before the last frost, surface-sowing for light, and transplant into moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Valerian is easy and long-lived; cut spent flowers to limit its enthusiastic self-seeding, and note that it is a regulated noxious weed in Connecticut and Wisconsin, where it should not be planted. For root harvest, grow it as a one-to-two-year crop and divide clumps to renew.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Sep 12 · Year 2
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Tomato — Valerian is reputed to draw earthworms and beneficial insects to nearby vegetables
- Broccoli — Draws bees and predatory insects that help protect brassicas
- Yarrow — Shares a pollinator border and the same easy conditions
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Valerian is rarely troubled; support ladybugs and lacewings and rinse off any clusters
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cut the fragrant flowers for the vase as they open. For medicinal root, dig in the fall of the first or second year after the tops die back, when the active compounds peak; wash, dry, and store the roots.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Valerian root has a long traditional use as a calming herb for sleep and anxiety - a folk remedy, not a substitute for medical care - and its fragrant flowers feed bees, hoverflies, and beetles.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.