Clusters of small crimson flowers, likened by the botanist De Candolle to a red spearhead, rise on stems 24 to 40 inches (60 to 100 cm) tall from late spring to early autumn. Native to the Mediterranean, devil’s beard (Centranthus ruber) asks only full sun and poor, well-drained soil — give it that and it will even root in a wall crack.
| Name | Centranthus ruber |
|---|---|
| Family | Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family), into which the Valerianaceae family was merged |
| Type | perennial |
| Height | 24 to 40 inches (60 to 100 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | ordinary, or even poor |
| Flowering | late spring to early autumn |
You can start sowing devil’s beard at the end of winter or transplant seedlings purchased from horticulture stores in spring.
Sowing garden valerian
Garden valerian is sown right at the end of winter with a cover, or in spring directly in the ground, when the last frosts are past.
Devil’s beard needs sun to develop and bloom.
If you sow directly in the ground:
Planting devil’s beard
Spring or fall are the recommended planting seasons for devil’s beard. Keep a distance of 12 inches (30 cm) between plants.
If you’re planting devil’s beard in spring, remember to water a bit more at the beginning.
Devil’s beard is a plant that propagates naturally through its seeds, but it is also possible to perform crown division.
Divide only young, vigorous clumps of red valerian (Centranthus ruber): older plants develop a deep, woody taproot and resent division, so propagate mature specimens from seed or basal cuttings instead.
Lift self-sown seedlings while they are still small.
Devil’s beard can be started from seed, bought as young plants, or lifted and split, and each route has its own season and spacing. The table below sets the options side by side so you can pick the one that suits your plot.
| Method | When | How | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing under cover | Late winter | Sow in trays with a cover before moving plants out | Seedlings need sun to develop and bloom |
| Direct sowing in the ground | Early to mid-spring, once the last frosts are past | Break up the soil, broadcast the seed, water with a fine drizzle | Thin to one vigorous seedling every 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) |
| Planting young plants | Spring or autumn | Set plants 12 inches (30 cm) apart, no soil mix needed | Spring plantings need a little extra water at the start |
| Crown division | Autumn | Split young, vigorous clumps | Older plants form a deep woody taproot and resent division |
| Self-seeding | Whenever flower heads turn fluffy | The plant sows itself, seedlings can be lifted and moved | Can become invasive, so pull unwanted seedlings while small |
Whichever route you choose, full sun and a poor, free-draining spot matter far more than any extra attention.
Devil’s beard is definitely an extremely easy plant that requires no care at all.
Devil’s beard is even considered an invasive plant, it makes sense to heed the cue and control its growth.
Deadhead the faded flower heads before they turn fluffy, and you will both limit self-seeding and often earn a second flush of bloom.
Shearing the whole clump back by about half after the first flush keeps it tidy instead of leggy.
Pull unwanted seedlings while small; their taproot soon anchors deep in wall cracks.
For red valerian (Centranthus ruber), the Mediterranean species, skip fertiliser: it thrives in poor, well-drained soil, whereas rich feeding tends to produce soft, floppy stems and fewer flowers.
Very easy to care for, it fears no disease or parasite.
However, if you detect a white layer or frost-like covering of the leaves, most probably powdery mildew is infecting it.
Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) thrives in dry, well-drained, even rocky soil, and waterlogged ground can rot its crown, while the plant itself is rarely troubled by serious pests.
Mildew takes hold mostly where clumps have grown dense and airless, so divide or thin crowded plants to let air move through the foliage.
Slugs and snails commonly damage soft young seedlings of many garden plants, and tougher mature growth is generally less vulnerable, though established plants are not guaranteed to escape grazing entirely.
Red valerian, or Centranthus ruber, owes its name to the botanist De Candolle, who likened its flowers to a red spearhead (kentron means spear in Greek, and anthos means flower and ruber means red).
Native to the Mediterranean area, devil’s beard or garden valerian has the incredible capacity to grow in all types of soil, even the driest ones.
It can be found especially along the Atlantic coast.
Also, devil’s beard is often said to share the sedative properties of its cousin medicinal valerian. But take note that devil’s beard or garden valerian (red valerian) differ from medicinal valerian.
Important note: Garden valerian is related to the Valeriana family. A compound that is present in all of these plants is valproic acid, a soothing agent. It has been shown that ingesting it during pregnancy, especially the first trimester, resulted in more birth defects (1 to 2% more) in the children born. These include spina bifida, atrial septal defect (hole in the heart), hypospadias (an abnormality in the urethra in boys), polydactyly (extra fingers/toes), craniosynostosis and cleft palate. Do not use this herb while pregnant!
Be aware that devil’s beard multiplies on its own very easily, and sometimes becomes invasive.
