Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Valeriana sitchensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Seed
Edible Uses:

Root - cooked. A strong flavour, it needs to be steamed for 24 hours[172]. Seed - parched[172].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic Carminative Diuretic Eczema Hypnotic Nervine Sedative Stimulant

Valerian is a well-known and frequently used medicinal herb that has a long and proven history of efficacy. It is noted especially for its effect as a tranquilliser and nervine, particularly for those people suffering from nervous overstrain[4, 222]. Valerian has been shown to encourage sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure[254]. It is also used internally in the treatment of painful menstruation, cramps, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome etc[238, 254]. It should not be prescribed for patients with liver problems[238]. Externally, it is used to treat eczema, ulcers and minor injuries[238]. The root is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, powerfully nervine, sedative and stimulant[4, 7, 9, 14, 21, 46, 147, 165, 192, 218]. The active ingredients are called valepotriates, research has confirmed that these have a calming effect on agitated people, but are also a stimulant in cases of fatigue[222]. The roots of 2 year old plants are harvested in the autumn once the leaves have died down and are used fresh or dried[4, 9, 238]. The fresh root is about 3 times as effective as roots dried at 40° (the report does not specify if this is centigrade or fahrenheit), whilst temperatures above 82° destroy the active principle in the root[240]. Use with caution[21, 238], see the notes above on toxicity.

References More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Other Uses

Incense

The dried root has been used as an incense[257].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed because it requires light for germination[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Centranthus macrosiphon		Annual	0.6	-		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Centranthus ruber	Red Valerian, Fox's Brush, Jupiter's Beard	Perennial	0.9	5-8	M	LMH	N	DM	2	1	1
Fedia cornucopiae		Annual	0.2	-		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Nardostachys grandiflora	Spikenard	Perennial	0.3	-		LMH	SN	M	1	3	3
Patrinia scabiosifolia	Eastern Valerian, Scabious Patrinia	Perennial	0.6	5-8	F	LM	N	M	1	3
Patrinia triloba		Perennial	0.5	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0	2
Patrinia villosa		Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	1
Valeriana amurensis		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	N	M	1	0
Valeriana capitata	Valerian, Captiate valerian	Perennial	0.6	0-0		LMH	N	MWe	1	1	1
Valeriana celtica		Perennial	0.3	-		LMH	N	M	1	1	2
Valeriana ciliata	Tobacco Root	Perennial	0.8	-		LMH	N	M	1	0
Valeriana dioica	Marsh Valerian, Woods valerian	Perennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	N	MWe	1	1
Valeriana fauriei		Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	N	M	0	1
Valeriana hardwickii		Perennial	1.5	-		LMH	N	M	0	3	2
Valeriana jatamansi	Indian Valerian	Perennial	0.5	-		LMH	N	M	0	3	1
Valeriana obovata	Tobacco Root	Perennial	1.2	-		LMH	N	M	2	1
Valeriana occidentalis	western valerian	Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	N	M	1	1
Valeriana officinalis	Valerian, Garden valerian	Perennial	1.5	4-8		LMH	N	M	2	3	3
Valeriana phu		Perennial	0.4	-		LMH	SN	DM	2	1	3
Valeriana sambucifolia		Perennial	1.5	4-8		LMH	SN	M	2	3	2
Valeriana toluccana		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	N	M	2	2	3
Valeriana uliginosa	Mountain Valerian	Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	N	MWe	0	2
Valerianella carinata	Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad, European cornsalad	Annual	0.3	0-0		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Valerianella chenopodifolia		Annual	0.6	-		LMH	N	M	2	0
Valerianella eriocarpa	Italian Corn Salad	Annual	0.4	-		LMH	N	DM	3	0
Valerianella locusta	Corn Salad, Lewiston cornsalad	Annual	0.3	4-8		LMH	N	DM	4	0
Valerianella radiata	Beaked Cornsalad	Annual	0.6	0-0		LMH	N	DM	2	0	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Valeriana sitchensis - Bong.