Gardening Edible Gardening Herbs Valerian By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 1, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Valerian Overview Description This upright perennial herb, also called garden heliotrope, is topped with white to pinkish-white fragrant flowers in midsummer. The blooms were once used in perfume production. Cats also find the plant attractive and may rub against the foliage as they do with catnip. Valerian attracts butterflies to the garden. Remove spent flowers to prevent the plant from self-sowing. Genus Name Valeriana officinalis Common Name Valerian Plant Type Herb, Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 2 to 3 feet Flower Color Pink, Yellow Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Fragrance Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division, Seed Growing herbs in containers? Use these tips and ideas More Videos » Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit