Red valerian
Scientific name: centranthus ruber
Red valerian, also called Jupiter's beard, spur valerian or just valerian, is a pretty garden plant grown for its large spikes of pink flowers. It will tolerate drought, frost and highly alkaline soils - it can even grow in the cracks of a limestone wall. The whole plant is edible but is not particularly tasty.
It can be confused with true valerian, which is an unrelated plant with medicinal properties.
