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Red Valerian (view source)

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{{Taxobox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| name = Centranthus ruber
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| name = ''Centranthus ruber''
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| common_names = Red Valerian, Jupiter's beard
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| growth_habit = herbaceous
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| high = 16-28in
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| wide =    <!--- 20in (65cm) -->
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| origin = [[Mediterranean]]
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan = perennial
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| exposure =    <!--- sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water = drought tolerant
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| features = flowers, hardy, naturalizes, pH
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 40F (5C), etc -->
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| bloom = spring to early fall
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| usda_zones = 5a-10
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| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = GardenValerian.jpg
 
| image = GardenValerian.jpg
 
| image_width = 200px
 
| image_width = 200px
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| image_caption =    <!--- eg. Cultivated freesias -->
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| regnum = Plantae
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| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| ordo = [[Dipsacales]]
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
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| familia = [[Valerianaceae]]
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| ordo = Dipsacales
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| genus = ''[[Centranthus]]''
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| familia = Valerianaceae
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| species = '''''C. ruber'''''
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| genus = Centranthus
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| binomial = ''Centranthus ruber''
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| species = ruber
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| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L]].) DC.
   
}}
 
}}
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'''Red valerian''' is a popular [[gardening|garden]] flower, sometimes called just Valerian, which is a mistake as that is a completely different species (and genus?).
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'''''Centranthus ruber''''', also called '''Valerian''' or '''Red valerian''' is a popular [[gardening|garden]] flower.  Other common names include '''Jupiter's Beard'''.  
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A popular garden plant which can take very poor conditions, which has made it successful in naturalizing in large sections of the world, including [[Great Britain]] and the [[United States]], especially the west, and especially in disturbed, rocky places at elevations below 200m or by the roadside or in urban wasteland. It tolerate highly [[alkali]]ne soil, even growing freely in old walls despite the lime in their mortar.
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A native of the [[Mediterranean]] region, ''Centranthus ruber'' has been introduced into many other parts of the world as a garden escapee. It is naturalised in both [[Great Britain]] and the [[United States]]. In the US it can be found growing wild in such western states as [[Arizona]], [[Utah]], [[California]], [[Hawaii]], [[Oregon]] and [[Utah]], usually in disturbed, rocky places at elevations below 200 m. It is often seen by roadsides or in urban wasteland. It can tolerate very [[alkali]]ne soil conditions, and will grow freely in old walls despite the lime in their mortar.
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It usually grows as a [[subshrub]] though it can take any form from a [[herb]] to a [[shrub]] depending on conditions. Plants usually get woody at the base. Leaves are generally 5-8 cm long with a shape that changes from the bottom to the top of the plant, the lower leaves being petioled while the upper leaves are sessile. Red Valerian flowers profusely for a long period, in any shade from the more common purplish reds to white.  The inflorescences are large and showy, with a strong rank scent: they are pollinated by [[bee]]s and [[butterfly|butterflies]], with the plant known for attracting insects.  
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It grows as a [[perennial plant]], usually as a [[subshrub]] though it can take any form from a [[herb]] to a [[shrub]] depending on conditions; the plants are usually woody at the base. The leaves are generally 5-8 cm in length.  Their shape changes from the bottom to the top of the plant, the lower leaves being petioled while the upper leaves are sessile. The plant flowers profusely, and though the individual flowers are small (no more than 2 cm), the inflorescences are large and showy. The flowers have a strong and somewhat rank scent: they are pollinated by both [[bee]]s and [[butterfly|butterflies]] and the plant is noted for attracting insects. It is used as a food plant by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Angle Shades]]. The flowers are usually a purplish red, but sometimes lavender or white in colour.  
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{{Inc|
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Centranthus ruber, DC. Red Valerian. Jupiter's Beard. Perennial, 1-3 ft., smooth and glaucous, forming a compact and floriferous bushy plant: lvs. ovate to lanceolate, some of them toothed at base but mostly entire: fls. numerous, deep crimson to pale red, fragrant. Eu., E. —A very handsome old garden plant, too much neglected; blooms all summer; excellent for cutting. Increased by division; also by seeds. There is a white-fld. form (var. albus).
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}}
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Both leaves and roots can be eaten, the leaves either fresh in salads or lightly boiled, the roots boiled in soups.  Opinions differ as to whether either make very good eating, however.  Although it is sometimes reported to have medicinal properties, there is no basis for this view, which is almost certainly due to confusion with true [[Valerian]].
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==Cultivation==
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{{monthbox
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| color = IndianRed
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| name = Red valerian
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| jan =
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| feb = sow
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| mar = sow
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| apr = transplant
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| may = transplant
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| jun = flowering
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| jul = flowering
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| aug = flowering
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| sep = flowering
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| oct =
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| nov =
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| dec =
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| notes =
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}}
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Needs regular water only when the plants are getting established, after which they are extremely drought tolerant.  Cut back old dead flowers to encourage new blooms, which come from spring to early fall.  Cutting off dead flower heads also prevents unwanted self-seeding.
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===Propagation===
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Tip cuttings, seed sown in spring.  Self sows.
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===Pests and diseases===
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It is used as a food plant by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Angle Shades]].
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==Cultivars==
    
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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<!-- For plants with a lot of photos - a gallery can be added below, otherwise remove this section!  -->
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Image:Centranthus ruber 1.jpg|Closeup of flowerhead
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</gallery>
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==References==
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*{{wplink}}
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881926248  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
    
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_valerian
   
*[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Centranthus+ruber Jepson manual species treatment]
 
*[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Centranthus+ruber Jepson manual species treatment]
 
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Centranthus+ruber&CAN=LATIND Entry in the Plants for a Future database]
 
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Centranthus+ruber&CAN=LATIND Entry in the Plants for a Future database]
 
*[http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Centranthus+ruber Images from the CalPhotos archive
 
*[http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Centranthus+ruber Images from the CalPhotos archive
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
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