Valeriana
Valerian, Setwall
- Height × spread
- 1.5m – 1.5m × 0.5m – 1.2m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around 200 different Valeriana species, but only a few find their way into the garden. The herb Valeriana officinalis is a good candidate for the wild garden, and also has a place in the medicinal garden. It is quietly pleasant, a tall plant that has domed to rounded heads composed of many small white flowers that appear for a good period during summer. It can stand up to 2 metres in height and is an attractive feature when grown in long grass. For spring effect Valeriana Phu Aurea is delightful, it has a smooth and alluring yellow colour that settles to green, and rather ordinary flowers during summer. The well ordered Valeriana pyrenaica with its rounded leaves and domed heads of soft pink flowers, around 90cm in height, is a good candidate for the cottage or natural garden.
- Flower colour
- Pink, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Dome
- Height
- 1.5m – 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.5m – 1.2m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Herb garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Planting
Support some varieties
Some plants within this genus may require support for young plants and/or long stems. It is best to look up your specific plant for guidance, and/or check the label.
Planting
Divide some varieties differently
Some plant varieties within this genus have different requirements for dividing them when they get big. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for guidance, and/or check the label.