Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of Europe's best-known evening herbs. It's all about the root, and that has a smell you won't easily forget: earthy, sharp and, according to many people, a bit like old socks. Cats love it. In this guide you'll learn how to recognise true valerian, which form suits you, how to make tea without the smell putting you off, how to grow the plant and harvest the root yourself, and what to keep in mind.
What is valerian?
True valerian is a hardy perennial from the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), previously placed in its own valerian family. It grows wild throughout Europe and Western Asia, including the Netherlands, mainly in damp places along ditches, rivers and woodland edges. The plant grows 1 to 1.5 metres tall, sometimes taller. From June to August it carries umbels of small, white to pale pink flowers that smell sweet. The root, on the other hand, smells strong, especially once dried. That smell comes from isovaleric acid.
The name probably comes from the Latin valere, to be healthy or strong. Valerian has been used since antiquity and is still one of the best-selling herbs in Europe.
True valerian or red valerian?
In gardens and on old walls you'll often see a plant that's also called valerian, but it's a different species. Here's how to tell them apart:
| True valerian | Marsh valerian | Red valerian | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Valeriana officinalis | Valeriana dioica | Centranthus ruber |
| Height | 1 to 1.5 metres | 15 to 30 centimetres | 40 to 80 centimetres |
| Leaf | Pinnate, with many narrow leaflets | Round at the base, pinnate on the stem | Whole, oval, blue-green |
| Flower | White to pale pink, in broad umbels | Pale pink, small | Deep red, pink or white, with a small spur |
| Habitat | Damp rough ground, ditch banks, woodland edges | Wet grassland, rare | Walls, dry gardens |
| For tea | Yes, the root | No | No |
For tea and extracts, only use the root of true valerian. Red valerian is a lovely garden plant, but not a tea herb.
What's in it?
The root contains valerenic acid, valepotriates and essential oil, including isovaleric acid, which gives it its smell. How much of each compound it contains depends on its origin, the harvest time and how the root was dried. Valepotriates are unstable and break down quickly with heat and storage. Valerian has traditionally been drunk as an evening tea. No health claims have been approved in the EU for valerian as an herb or food supplement, so we don't promise any effects either.
Which form should you choose?
| Product | Form | Use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valerian 50 grams | Dried, cut root | Tea, 1 to 3 grams per cup | Anyone who wants to brew or blend their own tea |
| True valerian 1:1 extract | Liquid herbal extract | Drops, as directed on the packaging | Anyone who doesn't like the smell of the tea |
| Relax formula (valerian extract) | Capsules | As directed on the packaging | Anyone who doesn't want tea or drops |
If valerian tea smells too strong for you, the extract or the capsules are an easy solution. You'll find more ready-made extracts in our tinctures and supplements.
Making valerian tea in 5 steps
- Take 1 to 3 grams of dried valerian root, about half to one full teaspoon.
- Pour a cup of boiling water over it, about 150 ml.
- Cover the cup and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Strain out the root. A teaspoon of honey or a slice of lemon softens the taste.
- Drink it in the evening, half an hour to an hour before bed. Stick to a maximum of three cups a day.
Tip: a cold infusion
A traditional method is a cold infusion. Put the root in a cup of cold water in the morning, leave it covered until the evening, strain it and warm the tea briefly without boiling it. The taste is milder and the fragrant compounds are better preserved.
Tasty combinations
Valerian has a pronounced taste and is often blended with milder herbs. Try it with lemon balm for a fresh note, a pinch of lavender, or passionflower for a classic evening blend. You'll find more herbs for a quiet evening among our relaxing herbs and in the tea category.
Growing valerian yourself
Valerian is easy to grow, comes back every year and makes a beautiful, tall summer plant for the back of a border. Its flowers attract lots of butterflies and bees.
Sowing in 5 steps
- Sow indoors in March or outdoors from mid-May. Use fresh seed, valerian seed only stays viable for one to two years.
- Scatter the seeds on moist seed compost and press them in. Don't cover them, valerian needs light to germinate.
- Put the tray somewhere bright at about 20 °C and keep the soil moist.
- After two to three weeks the seedlings appear. Prick them out once they have a few true leaves.
- Plant them outside after mid-May, about 40 centimetres apart.
The right spot and care
Choose sun or partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Valerian likes moisture, so don't put it in a dry, sandy spot. If you mainly want to harvest a sturdy root, cut off the flower stems before they set seed. That sends the energy to the root and stops the plant from seeding itself everywhere. Protect young plants from cats: they love rolling around on valerian.
Harvesting and drying the root
- Harvest the root in autumn of the second year, when the leaves start to die back.
- Carefully lift the whole plant with a garden fork.
- Rinse the roots thoroughly and cut them into small pieces.
- Dry them on a rack somewhere airy, or in a food dehydrator at no more than 40 °C.
- Store the dried root in an airtight jar, somewhere cool and dark. That way it keeps for one to two years.
Want to keep the plant? Divide it when you harvest: put a piece with a few buds back in the ground.
Safety
- Drowsiness: valerian can make you drowsy. Don't drive or operate machinery after using it.
- Don't combine with alcohol, sleeping pills or sedatives. If you take medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding: don't use it. Don't give it to children under 12 either.
- An unexpected reaction: some people actually become restless from valerian. If you notice that, stop using it.
- Side effects: occasionally stomach and bowel complaints such as nausea. Long-term and excessive use can cause headaches and restlessness.
Common mistakes
- Using red valerian: the red valerian in your garden is a different plant. Only use the root of Valeriana officinalis.
- Boiling the tea for too long: heat breaks down the fragrant compounds. Use boiling water or a cold infusion, and don't boil the root for long.
- Leaving the jar open: the smell spreads through the whole cupboard and the root loses strength. Use an airtight jar.
- Covering the seed with soil: valerian germinates in the light.
- Using old seed: after one to two years valerian seed germinates poorly.
- Harvesting the root in the first year: it's still small then. Wait until autumn of the second year.
- Choosing a dry spot: valerian grows best in moist soil.
Frequently asked questions
Why does valerian smell so strong?
The smell comes from isovaleric acid in the root. It's only really released once the root is dried. The plant's flowers, on the other hand, smell sweet.
How long should valerian tea steep?
Let it steep covered for 10 to 15 minutes, using 1 to 3 grams of dried root per 150 ml cup. Or choose a cold infusion of a few hours.
Do cats love valerian?
Yes, many cats react to valerian the way they react to catnip: they roll around on it and get playful. So keep your valerian tightly closed. We also sell catnip on its own, as Catnip (Nepeta cataria).
Is valerian hardy?
Yes. Valerian dies back above ground in winter and sprouts again in spring. In the Netherlands it also simply grows in the wild.
What's the difference between valerian and red valerian?
True valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has pinnate leaves and white to pale pink flower umbels. Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) has whole leaves and red flowers, and isn't a tea herb.
Where can I buy valerian?
You'll find dried valerian root (50 grams) among the relaxing herbs, the valerian 1:1 extract in tinctures and the Relax formula capsules in supplements.
Sources: Wikipedia (NL), Echte valeriaan, OMAFRA, Valerian growing guide, EMA, Valeriana officinalis radix monograph.
