Valarian officianalis has lush, mid green pinnate leaves that form a clump and throw up tall stems topped with clusters of palest pink white, star shaped flowers. It will self seed gently through the bed or by a wild pond and quite likes to have dampish feet. It can be useful in tying plants together, creating a natural look and adding a delicate height to a less formal border or wild area.

One of its best attributes though is its gorgeous scent, a soft vanilla fragrance that wafts around the garden. The scent is never strong, even if your nose is being tickled by the flowers, but a breeze can seem to send the gorgeous smell all around the garden in just the same sweet concentration.

Importantly valarian is a native and attracts hoverflies, bees, butterflies and moths and a whole host of other beneficial beasties.

So why grow valarian?

• A useful plant in the naturalistic border for height
• soft pink beautiful flowers
• self seeding
• sweetly scented
• native polinator
• Medicinally used to relieve nervous tension and aid sleep
• and in magic... it was used in love potions. If worn by a woman, it is said that men would “follow like children.”