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.
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.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~18 months
to first harvest
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
12-18 in. apart
Planting Depth
Surface-sow seed (needs light)
Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Soil Type
Moist, fertile, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Light feed in spring
Fertilizer
Compost or balanced
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.
Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Sep 12 · Year 2
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
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
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.
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.
Year 2