# Red Valerian (*Centranthus ruber*) Red Valerian is a bright pink flower that loves to grow in sunny places. It attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens colorful and lively! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Jupiter's Beard ![Red Valerian](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/GardenValerian.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GardenValerian.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Valerian is a robust plant with dense clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that are typically vibrant magenta-red, though sometimes pink or white. Its grey-green, slightly fleshy leaves provide a striking contrast to the cheerful blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Centranthus ## Interesting facts - Even its young leaves can be added to salads for a fresh, unique taste! - It's also called 'Kiss-me-quick' because its flowers are so charming! - This plant is a favorite 'fast-food stop' for speedy Hummingbird Hawk-moths! - You can sometimes spot its cheerful blooms growing right out of old stone walls! ## Special abilities - **Rooted in Rock:** Red Valerian can grow directly from cracks in walls and rocks, thanks to strong roots that find moisture in tough spots. - **Nectar Spur Power:** This plant has a long nectar spur on each flower to attract long-tongued insects like hummingbirds and hawk-moths, ensuring pollination. - **Self-Seeding Spreader:** Red Valerian can drop many seeds around itself, helping it quickly colonize new patches of ground. - **Drought Defender:** Its slightly succulent leaves help Red Valerian store water, allowing it to thrive in dry, sunny conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady Butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Sips nectar from the flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Hummingbird Hawk-moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hummingbird-hawk-moth) (*Macroglossum stellatarum*) — Its long proboscis reaches deep into nectar spurs. ## 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. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red 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 Red Valerian? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Red Valerian spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red Valerian? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Red Valerian bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is Red Valerian edible? Yes ### Is Red Valerian toxic? None ### What is Red Valerian's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Kolb Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kolb-park) — California, US · Park - [El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-presidio-de-santa-barbara-state-historic-park) — California, US · Historic Site - [Mount Baker Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-baker-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Lake Washington Boulevard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-washington-boulevard) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Magnolia Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-park) — Washington, US · Park - [East Duwamish Greenbelt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-duwamish-greenbelt) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Red Valerian](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-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: [Red Valerian: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-valerian)