# common valerian (*Valeriana officinalis*) Common valerian is a lovely plant with tall stems and pretty flowers. It often grows in gardens and can help people relax when used in teas or medicines. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** All-heal, Garden valerian ![common valerian](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Valeriana_officinalis_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Valeriana_officinalis_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja.jpg) ## Appearance The common valerian has tall, hollow stems and feather-like leaves. It displays clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers, typically pale pink to white, grouped at the top. This dense, fluffy bloom visually distinguishes it from many single-blossomed wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Valeriana ## Interesting facts - Ancient Greeks used valerian for many calming remedies centuries ago. - Its name "Valeriana" might mean "to be strong and healthy" in Latin! - Sometimes called "All-Heal," showing its historical value in medicine! - The powerful root scent even attracts cats, like catnip, and rats too! ## Special abilities - **Pungent Root Power:** Common valerian's roots emit a distinct, pungent scent, which may deter some pests and attract felines. - **Pollinator Platform:** Its many tiny flowers cluster into a broad, flat-topped head, creating an efficient landing platform for pollinators. - **Underground Traveler:** Common valerian spreads using underground stems called rhizomes, allowing it to colonize new areas effectively. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — For pollination and seed production. - **Depends on:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — A key pollinator for its flowers. - **Eaten by:** Valerian Pigmy Moth (*Ectoedemia arcuatella*) — Larvae mine its leaves. - **Eaten by:** Common Highflyer (*Hydriomena furcata*) — Caterpillars feed on its foliage. - **Parasitizes:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Feeds on its plant sap. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common valerian? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common valerian? 50-150 cm ### How wide does common valerian spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on common valerian? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does common valerian bloom? Summer ### Is common valerian edible? Yes ### Is common valerian toxic? Mild ### What is common valerian's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum - [Allentown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allentown-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Naval Station Great Lakes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naval-station-great-lakes) — Illinois, US · Campus - [Newburgh Colored Burial Ground](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/newburgh-colored-burial-ground) — New York, US · Historic District - [Silvermine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silvermine) — Connecticut, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see common valerian](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-valerian) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Valerian: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-valerian)