Valerian seeds
Valerian has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. This miracle herb goes by several names including the "sleeping plant", the "relaxation plant", and several others. An online search can yield more details about this marvel of nature. We are in Colorado, and in Boulder, we are lucky enough to have the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory. They have several popular relaxation and sleepy teas containing Valerian root.
Valerian is a perennial but can be grown as an annual. The blooms range from white to pink and emit a sweet fragrance. They also attract beneficial insects including hoverflies. They will also attract butterflies as the butterfly larvae will feed off the plant. but will not pose a threat. The entire plant is edible, but most of the health benefits are in the roots. The roots can be dried and made into tea, or eaten fresh. If you decide to grow Valerian, you will need a bit of garden/yard real estate as they can reach upwards of 5 feet tall in the summer. You can trim them or harvest the roots prior to them reaching this size if you prefer. Valerian needs full sun to partial shade. Valerian is extremely frost tolerant. Plants will re-emerge after even the most severe winters. Valerian is low maintenance and doesn't necessarily require fertilizer.
Seed count: 100
Botanic name:
Valeriana officinalis
Plant spacing:
12-18 inches
Color:
Light lavender blooms, green foliage
Sowing depth:
Surface sow,mix seeds into the top layer of soil and barely cover. Do not allow to dry, use a misting bottle 2-3 times a day to keep the soil moist until the seeds germiante.
Sun requirements:
Full sun / part shade
Utilization:
Use both the leaves and roots to assist in remedying several ailments. Valarian can be made into teas and tinctures.
Frost hardy:
Yes
Maturity days:
From seed to plant you will have a few blooms the first year if planted during the early spring. You will have significantly more blooms in the second year.
Life cycle:
Perennial
Can I start indoors:
Yes
Container friendly:
Yes
Other names:
All Heal, amantilla, baldrian, baldrianwurzel, garden heliotrope, Valeriana jatamansii, Valeriana edulis, Valeriana wallichii, Valeriana officinalis, Valeriana sitchensis, Valeriana spp, herba benedicta, setwall, Baldrianwurzel, phu, Valerianae radix, relaxation plant, and Valeriana wallichii
Vine Habit:
