Difference between revisions of "Red Valerian"

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{{Plantbox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
 
| name = ''Centranthus ruber''
 
| name = ''Centranthus ruber''
 
| common_names = Red Valerian, Jupiter's beard
 
| common_names = Red Valerian, Jupiter's beard
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| high = 16-28in
 
| high = 16-28in
 
| wide =    <!--- 20in (65cm) -->
 
| wide =    <!--- 20in (65cm) -->
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| origin =     <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
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| origin = [[Mediterranean]]
 
| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
 
| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan =     <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
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| lifespan = perennial
 
| exposure =    <!--- sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
 
| exposure =    <!--- sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water =     <!--- frequent, regular, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
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| water = drought tolerant
 
| features = flowers, hardy, naturalizes, pH
 
| features = flowers, hardy, naturalizes, pH
 
| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 40F (5C), etc -->
 
| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 40F (5C), etc -->
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| bloom =     <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for it's flowers -->
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| bloom = spring to early fall
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| usda_zones =     <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
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| usda_zones = 5a-10
 
| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
 
| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
 
| color = IndianRed
 
| color = IndianRed
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| species = ruber
 
| species = ruber
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Red valerian''' is a popular [[gardening|garden]] flower, sometimes called just Valerian, which another species is better known as.  
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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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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, 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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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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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. The flowers are usually a purplish red, but sometimes lavender or white in colour. 
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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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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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{{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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}}
  
 
==Cultivation==
 
==Cultivation==
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| notes =
 
| notes =
 
}}  
 
}}  
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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.
  
 
===Propagation===
 
===Propagation===
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Tip cuttings, seed sown in spring.
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Tip cuttings, seed sown in spring.  Self sows.
  
 
===Pests and diseases===
 
===Pests and diseases===

Latest revision as of 21:19, 17 June 2009


GardenValerian.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Origin: ✈ [[Origin::Mediterranean]]
Cultivation
Water: ◍ drought tolerant"drought tolerant" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: ✓ flowers, hardy"Hardy" is not in the list (evergreen, deciduous, flowers, fragrance, edible, fruit, naturalizes, invasive, foliage, birds, ...) of allowed values for the "Features" property., naturalizes, pH"PH" is not in the list (evergreen, deciduous, flowers, fragrance, edible, fruit, naturalizes, invasive, foliage, birds, ...) of allowed values for the "Features" property.
Scientific Names

Valerianaceae >

Centranthus >

ruber >


Red valerian is a popular garden flower, sometimes called just Valerian, which is a mistake as that is a completely different species (and genus?).

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 alkaline soil, even growing freely in old walls despite the lime in their mortar.

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 bees and butterflies, with the plant known for attracting insects.


Read about Red Valerian in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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).


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Red valerian calendar?
January:
February: sow
March: sow
April: transplant
May: transplant
June: flowering
July: flowering
August: flowering
September: flowering
October:
November:
December:
Notes:

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.

Propagation

Tip cuttings, seed sown in spring. Self sows.

Pests and diseases

It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Angle Shades.

Cultivars

Gallery

References

External links

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