Red Valerian Centranthus ruber also called spur valerian, kiss-me-quick, fox’s brush, devil’s beard and Jupiter’s beard, is a popular perennial garden plant grown for its ornamental flowers which are red, pink or white.  

It adapts to soils that are poor, alkaline, moist or dry, sandy or chalky. It flowers from April through to October. Bees and butterflies use the plant. It is not native but a naturalised neophyte. ( i.e it came into the country after 1500).

It has escaped from gardens and is regarded as invasive on the Local Nature Reserve because it takes up space where specialised shingle plants should grow. We try to reduce it and stop it from spreading further. It has very long tap roots which are almost impossible to get out. We remove seedlings where we can. 

It is not the Common Valerian used as a sleeping medicine.  It is not toxic and the young leaves are edible in salad but not very tasty (Please don’t forage from our LNR and don’t forage if you’re not able to correctly identify the plant!).