Valeriana officinalis
Nomenclature
Latin NameValeriana officinalis
Common name in English and GermanValerian, Baldrian
Regional namesValerian (English), Garden heliotrope (English), All-heal (English), Setwall (English), Valériane officinale (French), Herbe de Saint-Georges (French), Arznei-Baldrian (German), Baldrian (German), Valeriana (Spanish/Italian/Portuguese), Amantilla (Spanish), Baldriana (Italian), Echte valeriaan (Dutch), Valeriaan (Dutch), Läkevänderot (Swedish), Legevendelrot (Norwegian), Lægebaldrian (Danish), Rohtovirmajuuri (Finnish), Harilik palderjan (Estonian), Ārstniecības baldriāns (Latvian), Vaistinis valerijonas (Lithuanian), Kozłek lekarski (Polish), Kozlík lékařský (Czech), Valeriána lekárska (Slovak), Orvosi macskagyökér (Hungarian), Valeriană (Romanian), Ljekoviti odoljen (Croatian), Лечебна дилянка [Lechebna dilyanka] (Bulgarian), Валериана лекарственная [Valeriana lekarstvennaya] (Russian), Валеріана лікарська [Valeriana likarska] (Ukrainian), Βαλεριάνα [Valeriána] (Greek), ناردين مخزني [Nardeen makhzani] (Arabic), سنبلالطیب [Sonbol-at-teeb] (Persian), 纈草 [Xié cǎo] (Chinese), セイヨウカノコソウ [Seiyōkanokosō] (Japanese), 설령쥐오줌풀 [Seollyeongjiojumpul] (Korean)
Geographic data
Variety’s range of distributionEurope, parts of temperate Asia
Crop's center of diversityEurope, Caucasus
Provenance and collection data
CollectionMedicinal
Seed sourceCommercial supplier, Spore garden
Cultivation
Life cyclePerennial
Winter hardyYes
Cold stratificationyes
Months suitable for planting seedsMarch, September
Seed startingOutdoor
Days to harvest200
Growth habitHerb
Stem orientationUpright
Use as ground coverDensely covers soil
Plant height (cm)100-150
Sun exposureFull sun
Water RequirementsRegular irrigation
Soil preferenceWell drained, Loam, Clay, Neutral to higher pH
Successional communityPioneering, Wood edge, Patchy shrub-land
Potential use in agro-designDynamic accumulator of phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si), attracts pollinators, medicinal.
Reproduction
PollinationCross pollinating
Reproductive biologyMonoecious
Likelihood of hybridisationPossible
Use
Consumable partsRoots
Medicinal actionAnti-spasmodic, Sedative, Carminative, Hypnotic
Parts used medicinally and their effectRoot and rhizome used for insomnia, anxiety, tension relief.
Gastronomic useRarely eaten, strong flavor.