Centranthus ruber 'COCCINEUS'

Red valerian is a showy woody-based perennial from the Mediterranean which has naturalized in many parts of Europe as well as Americas. Yet it is surprising how difficult it seems to get one in local garden centres. Did you know that this beauty can bloom for as long as … wait for it … 6 months! Do you know any other hardy perennial that can do that?

Coccineus is a variety of Red valerian with scarlet red to rich pink flowers composed in upright panicles atop about 30-70 cm long stems. In good soil they can be quite large and last a few weeks, in poor soils they have average-sized heads but there are numerous more panicles coming out on stems arising from the axils of the main stems. Flowering begins on the first hot days of May and continues until the last warm and sunny days of autumn, truly incredible.

The whole plant is well branched and thanks to its habit looks like a small flowering bush. Leaves are pale green, narrowly lance-shaped, pointed, with a rounded tip. Red valerian is superb for rockeries and slopes with good drainage. It will look great in a perennial border, too, provided the soil does not hold water.

Red valerian is happy in full sun and locations where especially winter wet is not a danger. It is hardy but its fleshy roots will not take constant freezing and melting so dry conditions are crucial for this perennial. Removing spent flowers will enhance production of new flowers but leaving a few heads with seeds will bring new seedling with a very high productivity in the following spring. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 26-08-2015