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Garden valerian (Centranthus ruber): cultivation, planting and maintenance

Need Perennial Plant Updated 11/02/2026

You see a bright pink plant on a low wall, a dry embankment or in a rock garden, and you wonder if it is indeed garden valerian , where to plant it and how to keep it beautiful without it self-seeding everywhere?

This guide helps you identify it without confusion, choose the right location (sun, well-draining soil), and adopt the simple actions that make the difference: planting, reasonable watering, pruning after flowering, and solutions if it flowers little or withers.

Key points to remember

Choose the location: Gentle sun or partial shade, light and well-drained soil.
Plant at the right time: Sow in spring, divide clumps in autumn.
Water sparingly . Start with damp, then space out to avoid overwatering.
Harvest roots intelligently in autumn, after 2 years, then dry in a sheltered place.

Looking for an ultra-floriferous that can withstand drought , thrive in poor soil , and even grow in the cracks of a low wall? Garden valerian is one of the best candidates for a beautiful garden "without spending all your weekends on it." In this guide, I explain how to successfully grow garden valerian (choosing the location, planting, watering, pruning, propagation, and controlling self-seeding ) to achieve abundant and long-lasting blooms.

How to properly identify garden valerian (and avoid confusion)

Botanical name, nicknames and common confusion

“ Garden valerian ” most often refers to Centranthus ruber (also called red valerian ), nicknamed Spanish lilac or wall valerian .

Not to be confused with common valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ), another plant, known mainly for its traditional uses.

Quick portrait (useful for choosing the right spot)

Type : perennial (often short-lived, but renews itself by seed)
Advantages : long flowering period, tolerates poor and dry soils, very easy
Style : naturalistic, Mediterranean, gravel garden, rockery, embankment, walls

Where to plant garden valerian so that it thrives

Ideal exposure: sun first

For abundant flowering and a compact plant: full sun . It tolerates light partial shade, but generally flowers less and may become leggy.

Soil: the key point is drainage

Garden valerian prefers :

well-drained soil
rather poor to ordinary
often calcareous , stony, dry

heavy, damp soils (risk of withering in winter).

The best locations (and those to avoid)

Top locations

dry bank, sunny edge
rock garden, gravel garden
cracks in the low wall, well-drained base of the wall
naturalistic area with grasses

Avoid

waterlogged bottom of slope
compact clay soil without drainage
areas watered frequently (watered lawn, flowerbeds with "rich soil + irrigation")

Planting: the pro method for quick recovery

When to plant?

Spring : ideal for heavy soils (less risk of winter waterlogging)
Autumn : very good in well-drained soils (roots established before summer)

Planting steps (simple, but with 2 details that change everything)

Prepare the drainage : mix the soil with gravel/coarse sand if the soil is heavy.
Do not overload with compost : too much richness = soft stems, less firmness.
Place the root ball at ground level and tamp it down lightly.
Water once to expel the air, then allow to dry between waterings.

Spacing : allow approximately 30 to 40 cm between plants (for good aeration and less powdery mildew).

Garden valerian care : the bare minimum

Watering: “little but just enough”

After planting : water sparingly until the roots have established themselves.
Next : water only in prolonged dry conditions (it is known to tolerate drought).

Fertilizer: generally unnecessary (and often counterproductive)

In ordinary soil, no fertilizer is needed . Too much nitrogen results in many leaves, drooping stems, and less quality flowering.

Pruning: the technique to prolong flowering and avoid the “seed carpet”

Garden valerian flowers for a long time (often from late spring to late summer). To keep it tidy:

Remove faded flowers regularly (triggers new waves of flowers).
If the plant has finished flowering: cut back the flower stems (or even the clump) to encourage regrowth.

It is also the best method to limit spontaneous reseeding (see dedicated section).

Mulching: yes, but not just any kind

In dry soil: mineral (gravel) = perfect for drainage + aesthetics.
Avoid thick, wet organic mulches in cold/humid areas.

Flowering: how to get “more flowers, for longer”

The 4 most effective levers

Full sun
Well-drained soil (zero root asphyxiation)
Soil not too rich
Pruning of withered stems (lever #1 in practice)

Common mistakes (and how to correct them)

Plant that is drooping : soil too rich / partial shade / excessive watering → reduce water, stop fertilizing, put it in more sun.
Few flowers : lack of sun or too much nitrogen → move/thin out, avoid fertilizing.
Decline in winter : damp soil → raise the planting, amend with minerals, choose a more draining location.

Sowing, spontaneous reseeding and propagation

Sowing: simple and quick

Sowing is a common (and economical) method. Sowing is generally done in spring (or under cover in late winter depending on the climate).

Pro tip : sow thinly and transplant young, the recovery is better than with "stringed" plants.

Spontaneous reseeding: advantage or problem?

Garden valerian reseeds itself easily (that's one of its charms... or a problem depending on your garden style).

To encourage it (natural garden)

Let a few stems go to seed
bare/mineral soil favorable to germination

To limit it (structured garden)

Cut off the faded flowers before they go to seed
Lightly mulch the areas where you don't want to sow seeds
Pull up the seedlings in spring (very easy in moist soil)

Division/cuttings: useful if you want "the same" color

Sowing can produce variations. If you want to maintain a specific variety/color, choose:

division of clumps (outside of periods of intense heat)
cuttings (depending on conditions and equipment)

Varieties and uses in the garden (flowerbeds, rock gardens, walls)

Colors and effects

You will find flowers:

pink/red (the most classic)
white (often sold as a cultivar, e.g., 'Albus')

Associations that "work" (landscape effect)

With grasses (stipa, fescues): natural effect, very resistant to drought.
With dry soil perennials (sages, catmint, yarrow): long season.
In a gravel garden : minimal maintenance, lasting aesthetics.

Pests, diseases and resilience (field focus)

A generally very robust plant

In good conditions (sun + drainage), garden valerian has few problems.

Possible problems

Powdery mildew in humid summer or lack of ventilation: space out plantings, avoid excess nitrogen, water at the base.
Rot in suffocating soil: correct the drainage (this is the number 1 cause).

FAQ

What exactly is garden valerian ?

Garden valerian is most often Centranthus ruber , a very floriferous perennial, also called red valerian or Spanish lilac .

Where to plant garden valerian ?

Plant it in the sun poor to ordinary soil , but above all very well drained (it tolerates limestone and dry soils well).

When to sow garden valerian ?

Sowing is generally done in spring , and sometimes under cover at the end of winter depending on the region.

garden valerian be pruned ?

Yes: cut off faded flowers to encourage further blooming and limit reseeding ; you can also prune back after a large flowering period.

Is garden valerian invasive

It can self-seed abundantly in light/mineral soil. It is not "invasive" in the strict sense, but it can become very prevalent if allowed to go to seed.

Which types of flooring should be absolutely avoided?

heavy, compact and damp soils dry and well-drained soil .

Conclusion

Garden valerian is a cost-effective perennial: abundant flowers , low maintenance , and excellent in dry, well-drained soil in full sun . Remember the golden rule: drainage + sun + deadheading = long flowering period and clumps that remain attractive. If you want a more natural garden, let it self-seed ; if you prefer a more structured garden, cut it back before it goes to seed and remove the young seedlings in spring.

How to choose

To choose the right garden valerian , start with your needs: herbal tea (root), ornamental plant (variety), or garden cultivation. Check the origin, species, and part used. Prioritize clear traceability, careful drying, and a characteristic aroma. Adjust according to your tolerance for aromas and your method of use (infusion, maceration).

Mistakes to avoid: confusing medicinal valerian with decorative varieties, choosing without information on the species, relying solely on “organic” without traceability, buying a root that is too old or poorly stored, overpaying for vague promises.

Quick tip

To limit the spread of garden valerian, cut the flower stalks before they go to seed. Prune before seed : if you see the flowers wilting, cut them back immediately and compost the heads away from the vegetable garden.