Garden-heliotrope (Valeriana officinalis, Sp. pl. 1:31. 1753)

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:31. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Valeriana

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to NW. Iran

Description

Garden-heliotrope, scientifically known as Valeriana officinalis, is a perennial flowering plant renowned for its historical applications in traditional medicine and horticulture. This species is deeply rooted in the botanical history of Europe and extends its presence to Northwestern Iran. Recognizable for its delicate, sweetly scented blooms, Garden-heliotrope belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family.

The plant was first systematically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, one of the fundamental figures in modern taxonomy, with the publication referenced in “Species Plantarum.” Since then, Valeriana officinalis has garnered a reputation both for its ornamental charm and medicinal uses.

Characterized by its clusters of small, pink or white flowers, Garden-heliotrope typically flourishes in temperate climates and prefers environments with moist, well-drained soils. The plant can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters, displaying feathery, pinnate leaves that add to its delicate aesthetic.

Historically, the roots of Valeriana officinalis have been harvested and used in various traditional remedies, particularly noted for their sedative and anxiolytic effects. Extracts from the roots are still employed in herbal medicine today, often in the form of teas, tinctures, or supplements to promote relaxation and sleep.

In addition to its medicinal properties, Garden-heliotrope is also valued in gardens for its fragrant flowers, which attract a variety of pollinators including bees and butterflies, thereby supporting local ecosystems.

Whether appreciated for its beauty in ornamental gardens, its soothing scent, or its therapeutic benefits, Garden-heliotrope holds a distinguished place among flowering perennials. To this day, Valeriana officinalis continues to enchant botanists, gardeners, and herbalists alike with its captivating presence and multifaceted uses.

Common Names

Eng: common valerian, garden heliotrope, garden valerian, garden-heliotrope, valerian, allheal, european valerian
Deu: echter arznei-baldrian, echter baldrian
Dan: læge-baldrian
Nld: echte valeriaan
Por: erva-de-gato, valeriana
Nob: legevendelrot
Swe: läkevänderot, rohtovirmajuuri, vänderot, äkta vänderot
Nno: lækjevendelrot
Fin: rohtovirmajuuri
Fra: valériane officinale, valériane cultivée
Cym: cynffon y cabwllt, cynffon y capwllt, cynffon y ceiliog, falerian, gwell na’r aur, llys cadwgan, llysiau cadwgan, triaglog, yr efail arian
En: Garden-heliotrope, Common valerian, Valerian, Garden valerian, All heal, Cat’s valerian, Garden heliotrope, Валерьянка, European valerian, Allheal
Ar: ناردين مخزني
Hy: Կատվախոտ դեղատու
Az: Dərman pişikotu
Ba: Бесәй үләне
Eu: Belar bedeinkatu
Be: Валяр’ян лекавы
Bs: Odoljen
Bg: Валериана, Лечебна дилянка
Ca: Herba dels gats, Herba gatera, Valedriana, Valeriana, Valeriana vera
Zh: Xie cao, 欧缅草, 纈草, 缬草, 鹿子草
Cv: Кушак ути
Kw: Medhoges an gors
Hr: Valerijana
Cs: Kozlík lékařský
Da: Læge-Baldrian
Nl: Echte Valeriaan, Valeriaan
Et: Harilik palderjan, Palderjan
Fi: Rohtovirmajuuri
Fr: Valériane officinale, Herbe aux Chats, Herbe de Saint-Georges, Herbe à la Femme Meurtrie, Valeriane officinale, Valériane des collines, Valériane sauvage, Valériane à petites feuilles, Valériane cultivée
Gl: Herba benta
De: Echter Arznei-Baldrian, Baldrianwurzel, Arzneibaldrian, Augenwurzel, Bullerjan, Echter Baldrian, Hexenkraut, Katzenkraut, Katzenwargel, Mondwurz, Stinkwurz, Tolljan, Gebräuchlicher Baldrian
El: Αγριοζαμπούκος, Βαλεριάνα
He: ולריאן רפואי, ולריאן
Hu: Orvosi macskagyökér
Is: Garðabrúða
Id: Akar Valerian
Ga: Caorthann corraigh
It: Erba dei Gatti, Valeriana Comune
Jv: Valerian
Kk: Tüýinşöp, Түйіншөп, ٴتۇيىنشوپ
Ky: Мышык тамыр
Ko: 설령쥐오줌풀
Lv: Baldriāns, Ārstnieciskais baldriāns, Ārstniecības baldriāns
Lt: Vaistinis valerijonas
Lb: Baldrian
Mk: Маче трева
Ne: सुगन्धवाल
No: Legevendelrot, Lækjevendelrot
Nb: Legevendelrot
Nn: Lækjevendelrot
Ps: طبي والرين
Fa: سنبل الطیب, سنبل طیب, سنبل‌الطیب
Pl: Walerian, Kozłek Lekarski
Pt: Erva-de-gato, Valeriana
Ro: Valeriană
Ru: Valeriana lekarstvennaâ, Валериана лекарственная, Валерианы лекарственной корневища с корнями, Валерьянка, Валерьяновые капли, Корневища с корнями валерианы
Sr: Macina trava, Makebohija, Valerianaofficinalis, Valerijana, Валериан, Одољен
Sk: Valeriána lekárska
Es: Baldrijan, Zdravilna špajka, Alfeñique, Hierba o yerba de los gatos, Valeriana común, Valeriana de las boticas, Valeriana medicinal, Hierba de los gatos, Valeriana
Sv: Läkevänderot, Vendelört, Äkta vänderot, Rohtovirmajuuri, Vänderot
Zh-tw: 纈草
Tg: Нардсунбул
Zh-hant: 纈草
Tr: Kedi otu
Uk: Валеріана лікарська
Vi: Nữ lang
Cy: Triaglog gyffredin, Triaglog, Cynffon y Cabwllt, Cynffon y Capwllt, Cynffon y Ceiliog, Falerian, Gwell Na’r Aur, Llys Cadwgan, Llysiau Cadwgan, Yr Efail Arian

Synonyms

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2020 by Lennaert Steen (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2019 by erik dragt (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 9, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by Philippe Levarlet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2021 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 17, 2000 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2000 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by gabrielle kotewitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 23, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Pierre CAZES (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Pascal MILCENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Pascal MILCENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2888763)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:860012-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Valeriana officinalis L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Soil nutriments: 6