I got a valerian plant from a friend, and it's growing well in my garden. Unfortunately, she can't
remember where or when she purchased the mother plant. I love her dearly so sneaking over in the middle of the night, and "rustling" the babies are out of the question.
Can anyone give me sources for this plant? Also, it's new to me, and I've got it planted in my butterfly garden. Any info on growing valerian would also be of help. Thanks.
Pam
Valerian - Plant Source For
Valerian http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_(herb) try ebay to buy the plant or do search on google. hth ... ma vie
I'll be watching this for growing tips... I got a plant in a trade last year, had it in a pot over the winter, and now it's sending up a bloom.... I like the idea of putting it out in the butterfly garden!
Horizon Herbs in Williams, OR sells many medicinal plants from around the world. Their site may have growing tips as well.
www.horizonherbs.com
here's the link to it in PlantFiles. I assume this is the plant you're referring to
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/855/index.html
I may still have some seeds if you're interested in them.
You can find both Valerian seeds as well as plants at Horizon Herbs. You can also buy Valerian seed at www.mountainroseherbs . If you're still looking, that is, I didn't read to the end of this post. Or you can check the trade lists, or you could email me for seed in about a month, mine's blooming now. Funny, but the flowers smell so sweetly, yet the roots are so, well, odoriferous....(Okay, I think they stink)...Wonder why?
Got some valerian at a local garden center a couple years back. Altho it still grows where I planted it originally, it managed to hitch a ride into a big planter where it is currently fighting it out with a large hollyhock and some New Mexico sunflowers. (It likes the new place better.) I wonder if valerian might be invasive. The plants that do well for me generally are.
I got mine at Mountainvalley growers
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/valerian.htm
Have you checked out alongside some rural roads? I bought my first plant but there must be a million wild ones growing here in Indiana. (DUH on me!)
I don't have any official advice on growing Valerian, just my own experience with it. Mine likes sunny, part shade woodland conditions, and humous-y forest type soil, so I'm growing one of my Valerians in a large tub, with a Lemon Verbena shrub and two Scullkaps, and the other in a tub with spearmint, a fringed dianthus, and Gotu-Kola...They're both thriving. I also have a volunteer Valerian out by my comfrey, but it's not near as large, as those that I care for, and hasn't flowered yet. I'll bet that the root from the volunteer Valerian has more active principles, after harvesting, though. I find that plants that are stressed or wild grown are more active, medicinally, for some reason.
Maybe it's like people. Maybe living a soft life weakens the constitution of herbs, too?
Cyra
PS...ScottDeerie? Considering all the pollutants that plants absorb, I'm not sure I'd want to get herbs or herbs seed from roadsides, but I appreciate the practicality of the idea...
Cyra