Pronounced (approximate): vah-ler-ee-AH-nah oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lis
Dense rounded clusters contain tiny pale flowers. Opposite compound leaves have numerous toothed leaflets.
Garden Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): flower details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Caprifoliaceae
Life cycle Perennial
Blooms July–October
Height 3 to 6 feet
Habitat part shade, sun; moist or wet soil; shores, woodland edges, ditches, gardens
Common names: Garden Valerian
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
part shade, sun; moist or wet soil; shores, woodland edges, ditches, gardens. Flowering season: July–October.
Compare basal leaves and the number of leaflets before calling a plant Swamp Valerian. Garden Valerian has extensively divided basal foliage.
Dense rounded clusters contain tiny pale flowers.
Opposite compound leaves have numerous toothed leaflets.
Tall stems rise above moist roadside vegetation. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
10 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Introduced in North America; native to Asia.
Reported U.S. distribution
CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VT, WA, WI, WV
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Garden Valerian in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.
AI-assisted artwork created from original Where’s Wildlife photography. Each purchase includes a transparent, watermark-free PNG for personal and commercial projects. Some details may be reconstructed or altered.
