Make It Green Garden Center

Welcome to our plant search tool. This database contains many of the thousands of plants that we carry. There are some notable exceptions. Hundreds of new perennials come out every year and Make It Green has been a leader in making them available to you. Eventually the recent introductions will make it to our plant search tool but every year there will be a lag between our in-store plant selection and this search tool. Unfortunately this search tool can't cover everything that we will carry this year. We also carry over 100 varieties of rare and unusual evergreens and over 100 varieties of hard-to-find shrubs many of which are not in the plant search. Click on the Plant List button for a list of nearly all the woody plants (trees, shrubs and evergreens) that we have ordered or already have in stock for this coming year.



perennial

Red Valerian

Centranthus ruber

Add To My Wish List

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) at Make It Green Garden Centre

Red Valerian flowers

Red Valerian flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) at Make It Green Garden Centre

Red Valerian in bloom

Red Valerian in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  3 feet

Spread:  24 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Other Names:  Jupiter's Beard

Description:

A well branched, clump forming variety which is valued for use in poor, alkaline soils; a showy bloom of pink to red flowers from red buds from spring to frost; deadhead to prevent seeds from forming; less vigorous in hot humid temperatures

Ornamental Features

Red Valerian features showy cymes of fragrant pink star-shaped flowers held atop the stems in late spring, which emerge from distinctive crimson flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive fragrant pointy leaves remain grayish green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Red Valerian is an herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Self-Seeding

Red Valerian is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Red Valerian will grow to be about 32 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for poor, alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Red Valerian is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Garden  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color 
Ornamental Features