Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis
Photo: parent species Valeriana sitchensis · (c) giantcicada, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Valerianaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis is a native California perennial in the Valerianaceae family, recognized by leaf arrangement and dissection pattern differ from related subspecies.
Sitka valerian is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in moist meadows and places at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers in clusters. Growing with erect stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall, it has deeply divided leaves with leaflets that are irregularly lobed or sparsely toothed. Its leaves are primarily along the stem, ranging from 4 to 30 centimeters long with delicate, complex leaflet structures. The fruit is a small ovoid seed 4 to 5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; leaf arrangement and dissection pattern differ from related subspecies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, meadows
Elevation: 1500-2200 m
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Bloom period
Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis 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 sitchensis subsp. sitchensis native to California?
Yes. Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis bloom?
Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis belong to?
Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis is in the Valerianaceae family, genus Valeriana.
What habitat does Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis grow in?
Valeriana sitchensis subsp. sitchensis grows in Moist places, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Valeriana sp. — Valerian
- Valeriana californica — California valerian
- Valeriana occidentalis — Western valerian
- Valeriana pubicarpa — Mountain valerian
- Valeriana sitchensis — Sitka valerian
- Valeriana sitchensis subsp. scouleri
- Valerianaceae sp. — Valerian family
- Valerianella carinata — Corn salad
- Valerianella locusta — Corn salad
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.