Plant Details

Centranthus ruber

Red valerian

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Common names

45 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bovisand-sailor[1]
  • Jupiter's-beard[1]
  • Pretty Betsy[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Red valerian[1]
  • Spur valerian[1]
Other languages (26)
Dutch
  • Rode spoorbloem[1]
  • Spoorbloem[1]
French
  • Centranthe rouge[1]
  • lilas d'Espagne[1]
  • Valériane rouge[1]
Catalan
  • andianeta[1]
  • herba de Sant Jordi[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 红缬草[1]
  • 距缬草（距药草）[1]
  • 距药草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 红纈草[1]
  • 距纈草（距藥草）[1]
Croatian
  • Crvena ostrugica[1]
  • Crveni odoljen[1]
  • Mamuzica[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Czech
  • mavuň červená[1]
Danish
  • Rød sporebaldrian[1]
Estonian
  • punane kannuslill[1]
Finnish
German
  • Rote Spornblume[1]
Hebrew
  • חד-אבקן אדום[1]
Hungarian
  • piros sarkantyúvirág[1]
Irish
  • Slán iomaire[1]
Italian
  • Valeriana rossa[1]
Japanese
  • ベニカノコソウ[1]
Polish
  • Ostrogowiec czerwony[1]
Portuguese
  • Alfinetes[1]
  • Boliana[1]
  • Cuidado-dos-homens[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Rosa-da-rocha[1]
Russian
  • Валериана красная[1]
Slovak
  • valeriána červená[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna rdeča špajka[1]
Spanish
  • milamores[1]
  • Valeriana roja[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Kırmızı Sentrantus Mahmuz Çiçeği[1]
Ukrainian
  • Остріжник червоний[1]
Welsh
  • Triaglog goch[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Centranthus ruber — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Red Valerian — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Jupiter's-beard — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Bovisand-sailor — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Pretty Betsy — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Rote Spornblume — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Alfinetes — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Boliana — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Cuidado-dos-homens — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Rosa-da-rocha — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Spur valerian — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • andianeta — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Valeriana rossa — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Valériane rouge — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • centranthe rouge — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • lilas d'Espagne — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Valeriana roja — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • mavuň červená — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Rød sporebaldrian — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • milamores — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Spoorbloem — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Валериана красная — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Mamuzica — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Crvena ostrugica — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Mavonj — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Crveni odoljen — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • ベニカノコソウ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • punane kannuslill — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • 红缬草 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • pipört — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Slán iomaire — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Rode spoorbloem — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • 红纈草 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • חד-אבקן אדום — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • herba de Sant Jordi — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Ostrogowiec czerwony — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • navadna rdeča špajka — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • piros sarkantyúvirág — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • 距纈草（距藥草） — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • 距缬草（距药草） — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • 距药草 — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • punavirma — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Kırmızı Sentrantus Mahmuz Çiçeği — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Triaglog goch — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • valeriána červená — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.
  • Остріжник червоний — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 57283; Centranthus ruber.

General information

Scientific name: Centranthus ruber
Accepted name (Kew): Valeriana rubra View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Caprifoliaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Centranthus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Red valerian
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as vegetables. They are very flavorful and healthy. In our experience, the leaves are somewhat bitter and less enjoyable in salads. Roots can be cooked and used in soups.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Centranthus ruber (L.) DC., name ID 2709046, row 747749; Valeriana rubra L., name ID 2464478, row 198310
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 196233; name ID 2708985; Centranthus DC.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Valeriana rubra — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .