Valerian

European medicinal perennial with tall stems of sweetly fragrant white to pale pink flowers in early summer. The root is one of the best-known traditional herbs for rest and relaxation. It is anxiolytic, with mild sedative properties. It is also carminative and useful for stress-induced digestive conditions, such as IBS. As an anti-spasmodic, it is useful for muscle spasm and restless legs. Valerian is often used as a part of a larger formula. One reason for this is that the aromatic constituents in the roots are not pleasant smelling. The older the roots, the stronger the odor.  A small number of people have an idiosyncratic reaction to valerian and find it stimulating rather than relaxing, so proceed with caution if this herb is new to you.

Valerian is not native to North America. It comes from Europe and western Asia and has naturalized across the northern U.S., including Pennsylvania. It spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds freely, so cut the flower stalks after bloom to keep it in your garden and out of nearby fields and wetlands. Grows 3–5 feet tall in full sun (tolerates light shade) in moist, rich, well-drained soil. Hardy in Zones 4–7. Blooms June to July. The flowers are visited by bees and butterflies. Its sale is prohibited in Connecticut and restricted in Wisconsin, so we can’t ship valerian to those states.