Common Name: Marsh Valerian

General Information

Valeriana dioica is a herbaceous perennial plant with slender rhizomes; it produces a cluster of straight, unbranched stems arounf 15 - 25cm tall, occasionally up to 55cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

Some caution is advised with the use of this plant. At least one member of the genus is considered to be poisonous raw[] and V. officinalis is a powerful nervine and sedative that can become habit-forming.

Botanical References

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Range

Most of Europe, excluding far north, to Turkey; N. America - most of Canada and western USA

Habitat

Marshy meadows, fens and bogs[]. Wet meadows and among shrubs along river banks, in forest glades[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[]. A calcifuge plant, it requires a lime-free soil[].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. The odoriferous root is slowly baked for 2 days and then eaten as a vegetable, used in soups or made into a bread[].

Seed - parched[].

Medicinal

The whole plant, but especially the root, is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, nervine (powerful), sedative, stimulant[]. Use with caution[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed because it requires light for germination[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.