Red Valerian (Jupiter’s-Beard)
Centranthus ruber (formerly Valeriana rubra). VALERIANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Red Valerian
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow red valerian in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of red valerian
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for red valerian
- Season of bloom and planting time for red valerian
- When, how deep, and where to plant red valerian
- How to plant red valerian
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of red valerian
- Landscape and container uses of red valerian
- Comments about red valerian and its features
Growing Red Valerian
Several cultivars of bushy, rounded, deciduous perennial herbs, to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall. Opposite, shiny, blue green, green, oval, pointed leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
Annual valerian, Centranthus calcitrapa, and spur valerian, Centranthus macrosiphon, are closely related species with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many blue, pink, red, white, tubular, flared flowers, 1/2–1-1/2-in. (12–38-mm) wide, in terminal clusters, to 3 in. (75 mm) wide, in spring–summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 4–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained loam. Fertility: Average–low. 6.5–8.0 pH. Color best in alkaline soils.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun, 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) apart, when soil is workable.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Avoid fertilizing. Deadhead spent flowers to prevent self-seeding. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, beds, borders, massed plantings in arid, meadow, natural, rock gardens. Invasive, self-seeding. Pest and disease resistant.