Common Valerian

Description:

Irish Name: Caorthann corraigh Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century. This tall graceful perennial is found throughout the country growing beside rivers, canals and in meadows. The pale pink flowers (3-4mm long) are borne in dense, rounded clusters on thick, erect stems, blooming from June to September. Each corolla is tubular with 5 lobes and 3 long stamens. The lanceolate leaves are pinnate and toothed and the plant is branched in its upper half. This is a native plant and it belongs to the family Valerianaceae.

Habitat:

Happy in both damp and dry soil conditions but grows to a greater height (up to 2m) in damp places.

Notes:

Used as a medicinal herb for many centuries, the properties of Valeriana officinalis are used in preparations for insomnia. It is also commonly known as Wild Valerian.