Red valerian
Centranthus
An ornamental plant, sown March to April.
In September: lift and divide the red valerian, deadhead it and cut it back.
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Red valerian, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none |
| Plant out. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none |
| Lift and divide the red valerian. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Deadhead the red valerian. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Cut the red valerian back hard after flowering. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
| Cut back the red valerian. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover in March. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Sow outdoors in April, 0.2cm deep, 30cm apart. Moderate sources: Gardeners’ World and Chiltern Seeds.
Plant out in April, 30cm apart. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Lift and divide the red valerian
Usually March to May, and September to November. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Deadhead the red valerian
Usually June to September. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Cut the red valerian back hard after flowering
Gardeners call this the Hampton hack.
Almost to the ground, straight after its first flowers. Fresh leaves follow, and often a second flush of flowers.
Usually June to July. Moderate source: RHS.
Cut back the red valerian
Remove any dead leaves and put them on the compost heap. From Gardeners’ World.
Usually September to November. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Red valerian” comes from.