Valerianaceae
Valerian Family
4 genera
12 species
2 subspecies and varieties
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Centranthus ruberJupiter's-beard
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, also in Utah and Arizona.
Habitat: Disturbed areas at low elevations, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Plectritis brachystemonshortspur white plectritis
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, lowland prairies, balds at low elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Plectritis ciliosalong-spurred plectritis
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Klickitat County in Washington Klickitat County, Washington, and southwestern Oregon to California.
Habitat: Vernally moist, open slopes and meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Annual
Plectritis congestarosy plectritis, sea-blush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Open, vernally moist balds, prairies, meadows and slopes, from sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Plectritis macroceralong-horn plectritis, white plectritis
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Vernally moist, open areas; common in shrub-steppe
Origin: Native
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Valeriana columbianaWenatchee valerian
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest, where endemic to the Wenatchee Mountains and adjacent areas.
Habitat: Rocky, open slopes, often on basalt, at mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Valeriana dioicawoodland valerian
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to northern Washington and eastern Oregon, east to central Idaho and northwest Montana; circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist places in the mountains, often in wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
var. sylvatica – northern valerian
Valeriana edulistobacco-root, edible valerian
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to eastern Oregon, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: A wide variety of open, somewhat moist habitats, from the foothills to rather high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
var. edulis – tobacco root
Valeriana occidentalissmall-flower valerian, western valerian
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in southeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northern California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist, open or shaded places, mostly in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Valeriana scouleriScouler's valerian
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California
Habitat: Wet meadows and moist woods, sea level to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Valeriana sitchensisSitka valerian
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Common in moist areas at mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Valerianella locustalamb's-lettuce
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; eastern half of North America east of the Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist, open places, often in disturbed soil.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Annual