Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)
SKU:
$1.00
$1.00 - $5.60
$1.00
per item
Another great variety that brings in the pollinators and also has medicinal uses is Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)! Valerian is native to Asia and Europe and its roots have primarily been used medicinally since the 16th Century. Valerian is an attractive perennial herb that tops out at 40”, has beautiful fern like foliage, and bares multiple clusters of sweet scented pale pink flowers that butterflies adore.
Scientific Name: Valeriana Officinalis
Also Known As: Garden heliotrope, Common Valerian, Garden Valerian, or All-heal
Native Range: Europe, western Asia
Grown as: Perennial
Hardiness: Extremely cold hardy, even in harsh winter climates. Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. It prefers cooler weather.
Maturity (Blooms): June to July
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full Sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Water: Medium. This plant enjoys abundant rainfall.
Soil Moisture: Medium. Any average, well drained soil.
Maintenance: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Valerian flowers attract bees and butterflies. The plant also is resistant to deers.
Containers?: Yes. Plant Valerian in a large pot in moist, rich, loamy soil. Water regularly and keep by a very sunny window.
Height: 20-40"
Spacing: 18-36”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 4-9
Produces: an attractive perennial herb that tops out at 40”, has beautiful fern like foliage, and bares multiple clusters of sweet scented pale pink flowers that butterflies adore.
Garden Uses: Grown for ornamental and/or herbal purposes. Cottage gardens, borders, herb gardens, cutting gardens or naturalized areas. Good cut flower.
Also Known As: Garden heliotrope, Common Valerian, Garden Valerian, or All-heal
Native Range: Europe, western Asia
Grown as: Perennial
Hardiness: Extremely cold hardy, even in harsh winter climates. Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. It prefers cooler weather.
Maturity (Blooms): June to July
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full Sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Water: Medium. This plant enjoys abundant rainfall.
Soil Moisture: Medium. Any average, well drained soil.
Maintenance: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Valerian flowers attract bees and butterflies. The plant also is resistant to deers.
Containers?: Yes. Plant Valerian in a large pot in moist, rich, loamy soil. Water regularly and keep by a very sunny window.
Height: 20-40"
Spacing: 18-36”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 4-9
Produces: an attractive perennial herb that tops out at 40”, has beautiful fern like foliage, and bares multiple clusters of sweet scented pale pink flowers that butterflies adore.
Garden Uses: Grown for ornamental and/or herbal purposes. Cottage gardens, borders, herb gardens, cutting gardens or naturalized areas. Good cut flower.
Valerian seeds require light to germinate so it is best if sown 1/8th inch below the soil surface. Valerian also requires heat to germinate so make sure the temperature is 65-75F. If your home is cold, you can try creating a mini-greenhouse over your seed trays with plastic wrap. Keep the soil moist and germination should occur in 7-21 days.
Set your seedlings outside two to four weeks before your last frost. Space them 18-36” apart in full sun, consistently moist conditions, and soil consisting of fertile loam with a pH anywhere between 6.0-8.0.
Dig roots in fall or early spring and dry outdoors, because they release an unpleasant smell as they dry. Store in airtight container. Dried valerian roots are used to make a bedtime tea that promotes sleep. They are also much loved by cats and dogs.
Valerian spreads by rhizomes and seeds. This plant will self sow so if you want to control its spread you will need to cut back flowering stems before they can shed seeds in your garden.
An essential oil from the leaves and root is used as a flavoring in ice cream, baked goods, condiments etc. It is especially important in apple flavors. The leaves can also be used as a condiment. The plant is used in moderation as a herbal tea.
According to the Farmer's Almanac you can "Dig the complete root up in second season in late autumn. Remove fibrous roots, leaving the edible center. Valerian can be dried for future use."
Valerian is a well-known and frequently used medicinal herb that has a long and proven history of efficacy. It is noted especially for its effect as a tranquilizer and nervine, particularly for those people suffering from nervous overstrain. Valerian has been shown to encourage sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure. It is also used internally in the treatment of painful menstruation, cramps, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome etc. It should not be prescribed for patients with liver problems. Externally, it is used to treat eczema, ulcers and minor injuries. The root is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, powerfully nervine, sedative and stimulant. The active ingredients are called valepotriates, research has confirmed that these have a calming effect on agitated people, but are also a stimulant in cases of fatigue. The roots of 2 year old plants are harvested in the autumn once the leaves have died down and are used fresh or dried. The fresh root is about 3 times as effective as roots dried at 40C, whilst temperatures above 82C destroy the active principle in the root. Use with caution, see the notes above on toxicity.
Known Hazards: It is said that prolonged medicinal use of this plant can lead to addiction. A course of treatment should not exceed 3 months.
Known Hazards: It is said that prolonged medicinal use of this plant can lead to addiction. A course of treatment should not exceed 3 months.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Companion Planting
Companions: Echinacea, Catnip, Agastache and Dill. Often planted with low, mound-forming herbs and flowers.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
The plant yields about 1% of an essential oil from the roots. It is used in perfumery to provide a "mossy" aroma, though the scent is considered to be disagreeable by many people. The dried roots are also placed in linen cupboards and clothes drawers in order to scent the clothes. The dried root attracts rats and cats, it can be used as a bait to lure them away from other areas. An ingredient of "QR" herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost. The plant can also be used to make a very good liquid plant feed. It attracts earthworms. The leaves are very rich in phosphorus.
Suggested Varieties
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
$1.00 - $5.60
History records that catnip was first grown in the Roman town of Nepeti, which explains its genus name, Nepeta.In early Britain before the arrival of Chinese tea, dried catnip made an excellent and popular tea; this tea also had legendary medical benefits for complaints such as fever, congestion, anxiety, or poor digestion. Its effect on the personality was supposed to have ranged from sedation, to courage, to fierce aggressiveness. One popular legend states that reluctant hangmen often chewed catnip leaves to give them courage for their task. A member of the mint family, catnip is extremely attractive to cats; in modern times, it is commercially produced primarily for pets.
Coneflower: Purple (Echinacea purpurea)
$1.00 - $5.60
All the members of the Echinacea genus are native to North America, though they are becoming more rare in the wild. The genus name Echinacea comes from the Greek word for “hedgehog,” referring to the spiny seed head of the flower. Historically, this family of plants has been extensively used by Native American tribes and early settlers because of its beneficial medicinal properties. Echinacea acts as a natural antibiotic, and improves the function of the immune system; it became very popular in the medical field in the early twentieth century, particularly after the extensive researches of the German Dr. Gerhard Madaus. Echinacea is still widely used as an herbal remedy, as well as being a common and well-loved addition to perennial gardens and prairie plantings.
Dill: Dukat (Anethum graveolens)
$1.00 - $5.60
Historical records suggest that dill has been used for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years; its primary use was to calm the digestion and treat stomach ailments, hence its name from an old Saxon word meaning "to lull." Ancient Greek tradition suggested covering the head with dill leaves to induce sleep, while many herbal remedies from ages past recommend dill to soothe colicky babies. Traditionally, dill was thought to bring good fortune, protection, and wealth. Though the origin of dill's famous association with the pickle is not known, an 1640 recipe from the cook of England's King Charles I requires dill in its pickled cucumbers. Today, German, Greek, and Scandinavian cuisine most often include dill.
Hyssop: Yellow Giant (Agastache nepetoides)
$1.00 - $5.60
Giant Hyssop grows wild across the central prairie regions of the United States and Canada. Native Americans used the rough, serrated leaves in poultices to relieve poison ivy rash, as well as brewing them for tea. A popular choice for planting in perennial gardens, it attracts bees and butterflies as well as small birds. As a cut flower, it performs very well; in Holland, research and development is under way to produce a hybrid of this variety especially suited for the cut flower industry. Giant hyssop can usually be found growing wild in meadows, along fences, or in deciduous woods and brush.