Red Valerian

Red Valerian  (Centranthus)

Red Valerian (Centranthus) are plants for a warm, sunny and dry position. Here it will self-seed happily. Red Valerian often only lives for a few years, so always let a few seedlings to develop. If it is self-seeding more then you wish then cut away some of the flower stems after flowering. This will often also stimulate a second flowering later in the season. Red Valerian attracts lots of butterflies. They do like some lime in the soil. Red Valerian can be used in the border in small groups, but also just about anywhere in the cottage garden. Nice partners for Red Valerian are white Coneflower (Echinacea), Yarrow (Achillea) and Giant Hyssop (Agastache).