How To Do Grow Valerian Herbs In Home Garden

"Traditionally Prescribed for insomnia, valerian may even have been the pied piper's secret weapon against rats"

A Herb that links the Pied Piper. both world wars and a good night's sleep has to be a clever crop. A medicinal herb with at least a 1000-year history of human use, valerian does all that and more.

The tale of the Pied Piper. who purged the town of Hamelin of a rat plague, is cited as an early case of the use of valerian root. Its dank smell, sometimes compared to aged leather, is highly appealing to rats. The Piper may have carried the root to entice the rats from the town.

Cats also like the smell of valerian, which is sometimes called cat's valerian, though there's no mention in the tale of felines quitting town alongside the rats.(The Piper later enticed away Hamelin's children, but that's another story.)

While it's hard to be sure about the Piper's rodent-wrangling skills, there are records that the herb, native to Western Europe, was used during both world wars to treat shell shock and nerves. Its traditional use is as a mild tranquiliser and it is also commonly found in herbal sleep remedies. It can be taken as a tea, tincture or extract, or added to the bath for external application. 

The plant is a herbaceous perennial with attractive, deeply divided green leaves and white to pink flower heads in late spring and summer that are rounded and musk-scented. The flower stalk stands proud of the leafy clump and may reach more than lm tall.

Gardening Tips To Grow Valerian Herbs Naturally

• Valerian is easy to grow in sun or shade but needs regular moisture to thrive - its native habitat is wetland areas.
• Grown from seed, it takes two years to develop a root system to harvest.
• Sow seeds in spring as conditions warm. 
• The seeds are small so are best grown by sprinkling them over seed-raising mix in a punnet. 
• For best germination, don't cover the seeds; just press them gently into the surface of the moist mix. 
• When they are large enough to handle, transplant the seedlings into the herb garden or a larger container, allowing at least 30-60cm between plants. 
• As cats like the smell of this plant, cover the seedlings to keep puss well away. 
• Cuttings can also be grown from existing plants by taking side shoots from the base of the clump. 
• Once established, plants also can be divided in autumn or early spring.
• Cut back the flowered stems as they finish to avoid unwanted self-seeding; this will also to encourage the plant to put its energy into rhizome development.
• Harvest established rhizomes in late autumn in the second year of growth. Dig up the plant, remove the fine roots and wash and dry the rhizome. 
• For efficacy, it is recommended to dry the root below 40°C.

AVAILABILITY

Valerian is sold at garden centres and is available as seed or plants from mail-order suppliers including The Seed Collection and Mudbrick Herb Cottage, who supplies potted plants. Don't confuse it with the self-sowing cottage garden plant kiss-me-quick (Centranthus ruber), also called red valerian and part of the valerian family but without its medicinal properties. 

WARNING

Herbalists warn that valerian should not be taken in large doses over an extended period although the herb is available in many over-the-counter preparations with no restrictions on dosage. At present, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is investigating a small number of cases that may indicate a link between valerian and liver injury.

Scientific Valerian label

• Common names: Valerian, all-heal, setwall, garden heliotrope 
• Botanical name: Valerian officinalis 
• Family: Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family) 
• Aspect & soil: Full sun to part shade; well-drained but moist soil 
• Best climate: Temperate, cool 
• Habit: Perennial 
• Propagation: Seed, division, basal cuttings 
• Difficulty: Easy