Key Features
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Fragrant Flower Clusters: Produces delicate white to pale pink blossoms with a noticeable floral fragrance.
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Tall Upright Growth: Develops strong flowering stems that provide vertical interest in garden borders.
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Finely Divided Foliage: Features attractive green leaves composed of narrow, toothed leaflets.
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Summer Flowering: Produces branching clusters of small flowers during late spring and summer.
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Traditional Garden Character: Complements cottage gardens, mixed perennial borders, and botanical plant collections.
Growing Benefits
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Soft Floral Colors: Pink-white blossoms add a gentle seasonal appearance to ornamental plantings.
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Natural Flower Fragrance: Flower clusters provide a distinctive scent during the blooming season.
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Pollinator Interest: Flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and other visiting insects.
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Perennial Growth: Established plants return during successive growing seasons in suitable climates.
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Vertical Garden Texture: Tall flowering stems contrast with lower-growing ornamental plants.
Seed Specifications
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Common Name: Common Valerian, Garden Valerian
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Botanical Name: Valeriana officinalis
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Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae
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Type: Aromatic Flowering Garden Perennial
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Plant Classification: Herbaceous Perennial
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Variety: Select Valerian; Cultivar Not Verified
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Flower Color: White, Pale Pink, Pinkish White
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Flower Shape: Small Tubular Flowers in Branching Clusters
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Flower Fragrance: Distinctive Sweet Floral Scent
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Foliage Color: Medium Green
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Leaf Shape: Pinnately Divided With Narrow Leaflets
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Plant Height: Approximately 3–5 Feet
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Plant Spread: Approximately 1–3 Feet
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Growth Habit: Upright, Clump Forming, Rhizomatous
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Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
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Soil: Fertile, Moist, Well-Draining Garden Soil
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Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
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Water Requirements: Moderate; Consistent Moisture Preferred
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Germination Time: Approximately 7–21 Days With Fresh Seeds Under Favorable Conditions; Variable
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Germination Temperature: Approximately 65–70°F
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Seed Preparation: Fresh Seeds Preferred; Cold Stratification Sometimes Beneficial
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Sowing Depth: Surface Sow or Cover Very Lightly
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Plant Spacing: Approximately 18–24 Inches
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USDA Growing Zones: Approximately 4–9
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Planting Season: Spring or Autumn
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Flowering Season: Late Spring to Summer
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Maturity: Flowering May Begin During the First or Second Growing Season
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Native Region: Europe and Temperate Asia
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Uses: Cottage Gardens, Fragrant Flower Borders, Ornamental Herb Gardens, Botanical Collections
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Seed Count Per Pack: Confirm Actual Quantity
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Special Characteristics: Fragrant Flowers, Tall Stems, Divided Foliage, Perennial Growth
Growing Tips
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Choose Bright Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade supports healthy growth and flowering.
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Maintain Soil Moisture: Water regularly during dry periods, especially while seedlings establish.
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Use Fresh Seeds: Valerian seeds may lose viability during prolonged storage.
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Avoid Deep Sowing: Light exposure can support successful seed germination.
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Provide Adequate Space: Allow sufficient room for tall flowering stems and mature foliage.
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Manage Spreading Growth: Remove developing seed heads and monitor underground growth to prevent unwanted spread.
Seed Storage
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Cool Storage: Store seeds in a cool location away from excessive heat.
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Dry Conditions: Keep thoroughly dried seeds in sealed, moisture-resistant containers.
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Light Protection: Avoid prolonged direct sunlight.
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Proper Labeling: Record the botanical name, seed lot, and collection date.
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Seed Freshness: Sow fresh seeds whenever possible because viability may decline during extended storage.
Unique Facts About the Seeds
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Honeysuckle Family Member: Valerian belongs to Caprifoliaceae under modern botanical classification.
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Distinctive Flower Clusters: Numerous small blossoms create broad, branching floral displays.
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Divided Leaf Structure: The green foliage consists of multiple leaflets arranged along a central axis.
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Naturally Fragrant Flowers: Mature blossoms produce a recognizable floral fragrance.
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Self-Seeding Habit: Established plants can produce abundant seeds and spread beyond their original planting location.


