Valeriana Species, All Heal, Garden Heliotrope, Valerian

Valerian is nice in the back of a garden where it doesn't tower over smaller plants. Because of its straight, long stalks, it seems to p...Read Morerovide the look of a garden structure as much as a plant. It is slow to germinate.

Spring to early summer bloomer with fragrant flowers that smell like vanilla. Plant doesn't need staking very sturdy. Nice fern-like foil...Read Moreage all summer. Spreads on it own runners.

This plant will grow quite happily in a container and overwinters without needing to be mulched or protected. The seedlings are easy to p...Read Moreull although they do tend to pop up at quite a distance to the mother plant. Seeds are carried by wind. Deadheading will provoke a second, smaller flush of blooms.

I love its fragrance during late spring. Blooms at that time when there is so much to do in the garden. The scent is like almond blossoms...Read More and fills my whole garden. Wouldn't miss it for this. It blooms about 4 weeks in my garden. Attracts bees and butterflies. I have it in my garden for several years now. I have 'nt experienced it as invasive..in spring I may find two or three seedlings, easy to recognize and easy to pull out. I have medium dry/moist soil conditions for it.

Staking valerian as it grows its floral stalks helps it keep a flower appearance, rather than a weed appearance.

Valerian grows wild along the roadsides ditches and in wet meadows. The plants get 5-6 feet tall when they're happy in a moist soil. It h...Read Moreas a very sweet fragrance that perfumes the air for several weeks in early summer. The roots of the plant are used as a medicinal herb - a mild sedative. It's an aggressive spreader ao make sure to give it plenty of room or plant it were it won't crowd out other plants.