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Valerian Officinalis

Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276

Bought one of these today from the wild flower section of the GC. Anyone have any experience of this plant? Looks pretty and grows tall image

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  • enilorac2enilorac2 Posts: 77

    I have only grown the pink variety which is very easy and requires no attention. It will spread but not excessively. (I tried to grow white from seed but no success.) It often grows in dry walls and comes back year after year

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    It grows wild near me, and in one of our sheep fields. Seems to like our damp acid soil. The sheep field ones get a fair bit of sun, the others are in dappled shade along the roadside,but again in moist condtions. Most of our side of the Peak District is moist thoughimage

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I think enilorac is talking about Centranthus rubera not Valeriana officinalis

    Not a hot, dry site Fishy, mine is in quite a lot of shade and as close to damp as it gets around here, Alkaline soil though so probably OK in both. Smells nice but less so if you get really close to it



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    It grows wild near me, and in one of our sheep fields. Seems to like our damp acid soil. It is very pale pink, but tends to look white in the sunshine.

    The sheep field ones get a fair bit of sun, the others are in dappled shade along the roadside,but again in moist condtions. Most of our side of the Peak District is moist thoughimage 

    Enilorac2 - you are talking about Centranthus ruber, also confusingly known as Valerian. Different plant entirely!

  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276

    No it's not the Red Valerian (I think it's called?), that grows out of walls everywhere, even though I do have that too. I mean the tall, willowy plant that has medicinal properties. Nut, I've planted it this morning towards the bottom of the garden near the pond. It's damper down there, shady too. Does anyone know if slugs like it?

    Also planted my Cornus Sibirica near there. Hopefully that will replace the photinia red robin I've grown tired of.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    Don't know if slugs have them, they seem to avoid the wild /weed type flowers and go for your best delphs, lupins etc ?

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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