Valeriana pyrenaica

Perennial of the Valerianaceae family, this Pyrenean valerian is native to the Pyrenees and the north of the Iberian Peninsula, with some stations reported in the western Alps and in Ireland. It thrives in high-altitude megaphorbia, cool and shaded undergrowth, stream edges, and humid hollows rich in organic matter, generally between 800 and 2,000 meters.

It forms vigorous upright clumps that can reach 50 to 80 cm in height under favorable conditions. The basal leaves are large, heart-shaped, long-petioled, bright green, with toothed edges; the upper cauline leaves gradually become smaller and sessile. This ample and distinctly heart-shaped foliage clearly distinguishes it from other European valerians.

The flowers are grouped in large, very branched terminal corymbs, of a delicate lilac pink, sprinkled with darker buds that create a sense of depth in the inflorescence. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude; in cultivation, it generally occurs in June-July.

In cultivation, it requires deep, cool to moist soil, rich in humus, in shade or partial shade, without summer drought. It is suitable for moist woodland gardens and large-scale naturalistic compositions.