Plant Details

Valeriana officinalis

Garden valerian

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Valeriana officinalis.

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Common names

42 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
  • cat's valerian[1]
  • common valerian[1]
  • Garden valerian
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Garðabrúða[1]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
  • Echte valeriaan[1]
  • valeriaan[1]
French
  • Valériane officinale[1]
  • Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis)[1]
  • valériane à petites feuilles[1]
Bashkir
  • бесәй үләне[1]
Belarusian
  • Валяр’ян лекавы[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Ljekoviti odoljen[1]
Czech
  • kozlík lékařský[1]
Danish
  • Læge-baldrian[1]
Estonian
  • harilik palderjan[1]
Finnish
  • rohtovirmajuuri[1]
German
  • Echter Baldrian[1]
Hungarian
  • orvosi macskagyökér[1]
Indonesian
Irish
  • Caorthann corraigh[1]
Italian
  • Valeriana comune[1]
Japanese
  • セイヨウカノコソウ[1]
Korean
  • 서양쥐오줌풀[1]
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības baldriāns[1]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis valerijonas[1]
Mongolian
  • Эмийн бамбай[1]
Norwegian
  • legevendelrot[1]
Polish
  • Kozłek lekarski[1]
Portuguese
  • valeriana-das-boticas[1]
Russian
  • Валериана лекарственная[1]
Slovak
  • valeriána lekárska[1]
Slovenian
  • zdravilna špajka[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • läkevänderot[1]
  • vänderot[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Валер'яна лікарська[1]
Welsh
  • Llysiau Cadwgan[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] Valeriana officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • common valerian — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Echter Baldrian — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • cat's valerian — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • ki saat — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • rohtovirmajuuri — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane officinale — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane à petites feuilles — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • kozlík lékařský — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • 纈草 — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Læge-baldrian — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Валериана лекарственная — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • legevendelrot — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana comune — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Vaistinis valerijonas — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Kozłek lekarski — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • harilik palderjan — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • 서양쥐오줌풀 — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Ljekoviti odoljen — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriana — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • läkevänderot — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • vänderot — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • セイヨウカノコソウ — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • 缬草 — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • бесәй үләне — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriana-das-boticas — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • kediotu — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valerian — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Эмийн бамбай — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Валер'яна лікарська — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Валяр’ян лекавы — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Echte valeriaan — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • orvosi macskagyökér — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Ārstniecības baldriāns — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Caorthann corraigh — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Garðabrúða — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • zdravilna špajka — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriaan — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriána lekárska — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Llysiau Cadwgan — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis) — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Valeriana officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Valeriana officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Caprifoliaceae

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

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

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–1.52 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–1.22 m

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

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Clumping, Erect

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

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

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

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

Seeds. No further details are known, but the seeds of other similar plants have dried out and then been eaten. The essential oil derived from the leaves and roots is used as a flavoring in ice cream, pastries, spices, and more. It plays an important role in apple flavors. The leaves can also be used as a spice. Additionally, the plant is moderately used for herbal tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 15/10

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: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 196234; name ID 2462304; Valeriana L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 199613; name ID 2464616; Valeriana officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Valeriana officinalis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2743405, ID 7FCMV: Valeriana officinalis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Valeriana officinalis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • 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 .