Common valerian

Susie · #1 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 04:41 PM

I know that lots of us grow red valerian but does anyone else grow our native common valerian, Valeriana officinalis? Is it a good wildlife attractant?

KeenTeen17 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 06:38 PM

I could give this a try. I have only ever seen the red valerian in gardens - never the common one. I have only ever seen the common valerian in waterlogged soil next to brooks / rivers and whatnot

UB4 gardener · #3 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 08:18 PM

i have planted it in both my old garden and this garden, ex-hayes and verwood, and the hayes one produced quite an uncommon sawfly, the flowers never made it due to being eaten. I have 3 coming up this year in this garden so will be able to let you know.

Chris

Susie · #4 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 09:09 PM

Small plug plants or a decent size?

cwilk · #5 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 09:47 PM

This used to grow in my previous garden - it seemed to prefer the dampish borders and would spread onto the (rather soggy) lawn given half a chance - runs like creeping buttercups.
I dug it all out after I read that it attracted cats!

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 20-04-2009, 07:51 PM

But was it any good for insects before you dug it out?

I was told it likes wet soil (although, like hemp agrimony, it is supposed to grow okay in ordinary garden soil too) so I have planted it just next to the pond where it should be dampish.

Jez · #7 (**permalink**) 13-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

But was it any good for insects before you dug it out?

I was told it likes wet soil (although, like hemp agrimony, it is supposed to grow okay in ordinary garden soil too) so I have planted it just next to the pond where it should be dampish.

Try this Susie

http://www.foxleas.com/PDF/Nectar%20...%20for%20M.pdf

Susie · #8 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 09:48 AM

Thanks, Jez.

I've got just about all of those. lol.

The common valerian is sending up some flower head spikes now so I should know in a couple of weeks if it is any good here.

Jez · #9 (**permalink**) 14-05-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

Thanks, Jez.

I've got just about all of those. lol.

The common valerian is sending up some flower head spikes now so I should know in a couple of weeks if it is any good here.

Thought you might, lol

Any chance of putting up a few photo's when they're out in flower for me?

Cheers

Jez