Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis) — care & requirements

In short

A tall perennial (up to 1.8 m) of moist meadows and watersides.
Blooms from June to August with small, fragrant flowers.
Needs moist, fertile soil and sun or partial shade.
The root is the medicinal part — it has a calming and sleep-inducing effect.
The scent of the root attracts cats, much like catnip.

Botanical data

Family: Caprifoliaceae (Caprifoliaceae)
Height: 1–1.8 m
Width: 0.5–1 m
Habit: Upright
Growth rate: Fast
Position: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil: Loamy, Humus-rich, Peaty
pH reaction: pH 6–7.5
Moisture: Moist, Moderate, Wet
Bloom: June–August
Hardiness: USDA 4a–9a
Propagation: From seed, By division

Characteristics

From a rosette of pinnately divided leaves rises an upright, grooved stem topped by a cyme of small, pale pink to white flowers with a sweetish scent. The underground rhizome with numerous roots gives off, once dried, a strong, characteristic odour prized by cats but unpleasant to many people.

Growing and care

Watering

Needs constantly moist soil — as a plant of moist meadows it tolerates drying out poorly. It tolerates short-term flooding better than drought.

In summer every ~3 days · drought tolerance: Low

Fertilizing

Feed moderately with humus; the plant grows best on fertile, moist sites.

once per season, in spring · kompost, nawóz organiczny

Planting

A fertile, humus-rich position with good access to water; on light soils add moisture-retaining compost.

Timing: Spring or autumn; seedlings from sowing for the following year. · spacing 40–60 cm

Pruning

Removing the spent umbels limits abundant self-seeding and stimulates the leaf rosette.

Timing: After flowering (August). · Caution: Do not leave all the inflorescences to seed if the plant is not meant to spread.

Companion plants

Good companions

CabbageGardening tradition

Valerian attracts predatory insects and earthworms, which is why it is regarded as beneficial to brassica vegetables.

Most leafy and root vegetablesGardening tradition

Regarded as a soil-improving plant (a nutrient accumulator) that stimulates earthworm activity and attracts pollinators.

Bad companions

Low, light-loving plantsPractical observation

The tall flowering stems (up to 1.8 m) cast heavy shade, and the plant seeds itself abundantly — it can crowd out lower, sun-loving neighbours.

The evidence level indicates whether the relationship is backed by research, observation, or gardening tradition.

Diseases and pests

Aphids

Small (1–3 mm) soft-bodied insects, green, black or pink, feeding in clusters on young shoots and the underside of leaves. They excrete sticky honeydew. The diagnostic feature that distinguishes aphids from other small sucking insects is the pair of siphunculi (tubular projections) at the rear of the abdomen together with a tail-like cauda; a single colony usually holds wingless forms (parthenogenetic females) alongside winged migrants that fly onto new plants in summer. In summer aphids reproduce parthenogenetically and viviparously over many generations, so the population builds up explosively; in autumn many species produce a sexual generation that lays overwintering eggs on the host, and host-alternating species move between a winter host (often a tree or shrub) and a summer host (a herbaceous plant). Feeding symptoms include curling, crinkling and distortion of young leaves, stunted growth, yellowing, and the shedding of buds and fruitlets. Abundant honeydew coats the leaves, and the sooty mould fungus that develops on it forms a black film which limits photosynthesis; the honeydew is fed on by ants, which in return defend the colony against predators. Aphids are also important vectors of plant viruses (mosaics among them), transmitting them from plant to plant even during a brief probing puncture.

Toxicity

For whom	Level	Notes
Humans	None	The root is used medicinally as a calming and sleep-inducing agent. Do not combine it with sedatives or alcohol without consulting a doctor.
Dogs	None	—
Cats	None	The scent of the root acts on cats as a stimulant, much like catnip; it is not a poison.

History and origin

Used in herbal medicine since antiquity — the genus name is sometimes derived from the Latin valere (to be healthy). In earlier medicine it was valued for nervous conditions, insomnia and states of tension; to this day valerian root is a pharmacopoeial raw material.

Uses

The dried root is used for infusions, tinctures and calming, sleep-inducing preparations. In the garden, valerian works well in naturalistic areas, by ponds and on moist flower meadows, where it attracts pollinators.

Trivia

The dried root affects many cats much like catnip, causing a state of excitement and rolling.
The word valerian colloquially refers precisely to preparations made from the valerian root.
Despite the sweet scent of the flowers, the dried root smells sharp and earthy.

Frequently asked questions

Which part of valerian is medicinal and when is it harvested?

The raw material is the root with the rhizome, dug up in the autumn of the second year of cultivation or in early spring. After cleaning, it is dried at a low temperature; it has a calming effect and makes falling asleep easier.

Why does valerian attract cats?

The scent of the dried root contains compounds that act on cats as a stimulant, much like catnip. Cats may roll about where the raw material is being dried; this is not harmful to them.

What position does common valerian like?

It grows best on fertile, constantly moist soil, in full sun or partial shade. It tolerates drying out poorly, so it thrives by water and on meadow-like, humus-rich sites.

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) — Valeriana officinalisDatabase (GBIF, POWO…)
RHS — Valeriana officinalis (common valerian)Institution / botanical garden

Edited by:Redakcja Atlas-Flora. Updated: 7/19/2026.

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Common valerian

USDA hardiness zones