Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

common name: 
Red Valerian, Jupiter's Beard, Spur Valerian
 | 
scientific name: 
Centranthus
 
ruber
Bright pink clustered flowers with green blurred background.

Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) produces showy clusters of crimson to rosy-pink flowers from late spring through summer, attracting a variety of pollinators in the Backyard Farmer Garden.

Image Creadit: 
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant

Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) is a long-blooming herbaceous perennial native to the Mediterranean region. It is prized for its dense clusters of rosy-pink to crimson flowers that appear from late spring through summer and often continue blooming with deadheading. The blue-green foliage and upright habit make it a valuable addition to cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, rock gardens, and informal landscapes. Red valerian thrives in well-drained soils and is exceptionally tolerant of drought once established.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones: 
5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Dry
Space Requirements: 
3–6 feet
Height Requirements: 
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements: 
1–2 feet
Maintenance Requirements: 
Low
Bloom Color: 
Red
Pink
Bloom Time: 
Spring
Summer
Leaf Color: 
Green
Wildlife Attraction: 
Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Deer
Drought
Dry Soil
Shallow-rocky Soil
Uses: 
Naturalize
Rain Garden
Varieties