COMMON VALERIAN
(Valeriana officinalis)

Name and Family
History
Identification Guide
What it does in the ecosystem
Management
Image Gallery
References

Name and Family

Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

History

Coming soon.

Identification Guide

Here are some key features that may help to positively identify Common Valerian:

Grows to 1.5 – 5ft tall
Leaves are compound and pinnately divided; leaflets are long with serrated edges, hairy underneath, with 5-25 leaflets per leaf
Stems are thick, fleshy, and ridged
Flowers are white or pale pink, forming in tight clusters at the top of the plant in 2-5 umbrella-shaped umbels, fragrant – very sweet smelling
Blooms June – August
Fruit are lance-shaped, small (0.1 inch), and contain many powdery seeds
Roots are fibrous; small, white, fleshy rhizomes have a pungent odour
Common Valerian spread vigorously by self-seeding and aerial stolons
Look-alikes include: bulbous water hemlock (native), woodland angelica (invasive)

What it does in the ecosystem

Common Valerian grows in moist soils, along stream banks, in wet meadows, fens, and roadside ditches. It can also grow in dryer conditions, and will tolerate some shade.