Valeriana californica
California valerian
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Valerianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Valeriana californica (California valerian) is a native California herb in the Valerianaceae family, recognized by flower size and lobe proportions are key.
California valerian is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and eastern Sierra Nevada in moist conifer forests at elevations of 1,500 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces cream-white flowers in delicate clusters about 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. Growing with stems 25 to 50 centimeters tall that are nearly smooth or slightly hairy, it has a distinctive leafy structure with both basal and stem leaves. Its leaves are complex, with basal leaves ranging from simple to compound and occasionally deeply 3 to 5-lobed, featuring a terminal lobe larger than side lobes and typically ovate to obovate in shape. The fruit is a small, slightly ovoid structure 4 to 6 millimeters long, characteristic of the valerian genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 5 species; flower size and lobe proportions are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, conifer forest
Elevation: 1500-3700 m
California counties: Nevada, Mono, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Modoc, Fresno, Sierra, Plumas, Placer, Siskiyou, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Tuolumne, Tulare, Madera, Trinity, Humboldt, Mariposa, Lassen, Del Norte, Mendocino
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Valeriana californica blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Centranthus: Valeriana has fern-like compound leaves; Centranthus has simple, undivided leaves.; vs Monardella: Valeriana has compound leaves and spurless flowers; Monardella has simple leaves and mint-family square stems.; vs Plectritis: Valeriana is perennial with compound leaves; Plectritis is annual with simple leaves.; vs Bistorta: Valeriana has compound leaves and clusters of small flowers; Bistorta has simple leaves and dense bottlebrush spikes.; vs Antennaria: Valeriana has compound leaves and open flower clusters; Antennaria has simple woolly leaves and fuzzy flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Valeriana californica native to California?
Yes. Valeriana californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Valeriana californica bloom?
Valeriana californica blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Valeriana californica grow?
Valeriana californica occurs in Nevada, Mono, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Modoc, Fresno, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3700 m.
What plant family does Valeriana californica belong to?
Valeriana californica is in the Valerianaceae family, genus Valeriana.
What habitat does Valeriana californica grow in?
Valeriana californica grows in Moist places, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.