Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Red Valerian

Valeriana rubra

Typically in season from May to September in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Red Valerian (Valeriana rubra)

Photo: (c) Marie-Lan Nguyen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · iNaturalist

When Red Valerian is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May to September. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Red Valerian is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: soapwort, annual valerian, common valerian. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Red Valerian into the field

Open Red Valerian in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Red Valerian: common questions

When is Red Valerian in season?

Red Valerian is generally in season from May to September in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Red Valerian grow?

Red Valerian is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland.

Is Red Valerian safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: soapwort, annual valerian, common valerian. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits