Britannica AI Icon

common valerian

plant
Also known as: Valeriana officinalis, garden heliotrope

Quick Summary

Common valerian, scientifically known as Valeriana officinalis, is a perennial herb belonging to the Valerianoideae subfamily within the Caprifoliaceae family. Native to Eurasia and naturalized in North America, this plant can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. It is recognized for its divided leaves and clusters of small, fragrant pinkish-white flowers. The roots of common valerian have been historically used to extract a spicy perfume and are also known for their sedative and carminative properties. Other plants in the Valeriana genus and related genera like Valerianella are cultivated for culinary uses or as ornamentals.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. Valerianoideae
  2. valerian

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.