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Valerian, Red

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Also known as Jupiter�s Beard, Keys of Heaven, Fox�s Bush
Centranthus ruber
Valerianaceae Family
Synonym: Valierana rubra, Valeriana coccinea

This low-maintenance, 2- to 3-foot-tall perennial bears showy, dense panicles of fragrant blooms in white, pink, blue or red. Flowers the first year when grown from seed, and makes a great cut flower.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun

Soil conditions:

tolerates droughty soil
requires well-drained soil
tolerates low fertility

Prefers poor soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Hardiness zones:

5 to 8

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1.5 to 3 feet

Spread: 2 to 3 feet

Bloom time:

mid-summer
late summer

Flower color:

red
blue
white
pink

Flowers are tiny and star-like.

Foliage color: gray-green

Leaves are dark, glossy gray-green.

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Flowers borne in dense panicles atop semi-erect stems.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

aggressive - Self-seeds prolifically.
non-invasive
not native to North America - Native to the Mediterranean
fragrant

Special uses:

cut flowers

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, cuttings, division or separation - Easy to grow from seed and plants usually flower the first year. Plant in containers in cold frame in spring.
Take basal cuttings in spring.
Divide in early spring or fall.

Maintenance and care:

Deadhead flowers to prevent reseeding and encourage foliar growth and secondary bloom. (Plants are often short-lived, so allowing some reseeding isn't a bad idea.)
Cut back to 6 to 8 inches in late summer to stimulate new growth and help overwintering. Don't prune again until spring clean-up.
Water when very dry.
Divide in spring or fall every 1 to 3 years.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties

�Albus� has creamy white blooms and only grows to 2 feet.
�Atrococcineus� has deep red blooms.
�Blue Giant� has pale blue flowers.
�Coccineus� has rosy pink flowers and only grows to 2 feet.
�Roseus� has rosy-pink flowers.