Red Valerian

Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian or Jupiter’s Beard) is a well-branched bushy clump-forming woody-based perennial which is valued for its ability to produce showy blooms in poor soils in spring through late summer. Blooming can be very sporadic. Small star-shaped red flowers appear in dense terminal clusters atop upright to relaxed stems rising above the foliage to 3′ tall. The flowers are fragrant. If not deadheaded the flowers give way to dandelion-like seed heads which are dispersed around the landscape by wind. Has gray-green oval to lance-shaped leaves up to 4 long. Native to the Mediterranean has naturalized in certain parts of the United States particularly along the West Coast. Full sun to part shade.”