Pollinator plant

Garden valerian

Valeriana officinalis

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

46 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
  • Common Valerian Complex
  • Garden Heliotrope[1]
  • Garden valerian[1]
  • Garðabrúða[2][3]
  • Valerian[1]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
French
  • Valériane officinale[2][3]
  • Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis)[2][3]
  • valériane à petites feuilles[2][3]
Bashkir
  • бесәй үләне[3]
Belarusian
  • Валяр’ян лекавы[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Ljekoviti odoljen[3]
Czech
  • kozlík lékařský[3]
Danish
  • Læge-baldrian[3]
Estonian
  • harilik palderjan[3]
Finnish
  • rohtovirmajuuri[3]
German
Hungarian
  • orvosi macskagyökér[3]
Indonesian
Irish
  • Caorthann corraigh[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウカノコソウ[3]
Korean
  • 서양쥐오줌풀[3]
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības baldriāns[3]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis valerijonas[3]
Mongolian
  • Эмийн бамбай[3]
Norwegian
  • legevendelrot[3]
Polish
  • Kozłek lekarski[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Валериана лекарственная[3]
Slovak
  • valeriána lekárska[3]
Slovenian
  • zdravilna špajka[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • läkevänderot[3]
  • vänderot[3]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Валер'яна лікарська[3]
Welsh
  • Llysiau Cadwgan[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Valeriana officinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Garden Valerian — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Valeriana officinalis.
  • All-heal — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Garden Heliotrope — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valerian — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Valeriana officinalis.
[2] Valeriana officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Echte valeriaan — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane officinale — results[1].names[7]; 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.
  • common valerian — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Garðabrúða — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis) — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane à petites feuilles — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana comune — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriaan — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriana-das-boticas — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
[3] Valeriana officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Echte valeriaan — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane officinale — results[1].names[7]; 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.
  • common valerian — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Garðabrúða — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valériane officinale (Valeriana officinalis) — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valériane à petites feuilles — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Valeriana comune — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriaan — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • valeriana-das-boticas — results[1].names[28]; 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.
  • 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.
  • Vaistinis valerijonas — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 56160; Valeriana officinalis.
  • Kozłek lekarski — results[1].names[17]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • zdravilna špajka — results[1].names[39]; 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.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common valerian — Page 4, column 2, row top 472 pt; common-name cell after Valeriana officinalis.; Valeriana officinalis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Valeriana officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Caprifoliaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe, Asia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Valeriana officinalis in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.50 m high × 1.00 m wide
Growth rate
Fast
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Seasoning, Tea, Seed
Functions
Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Valeriana officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2743405; ID 7FCMV; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2743405; ID 7FCMV; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Valeriana officinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 2, entry Valeriana officinalis (top 472 pt)

    Source checked on .