Red valerian "Crimson Night" (Pretty betsy, Bouncing bess, Jupiter's beard)

Red valerian "Crimson Night" - Centranthus ruber var. coccineus = Valeriana coccinea.
A unique, interesting perennial, characterized by abundant and long flowering. Long flowering and cold hardy.
In addition to sunny flower beds, it is suitable for planting on dry slopes, in rock gardens, on stone retaining walls, along the edges of the stone, on sunny steps, in roof gardens and in plantings between tiles of paved paths and platforms.
Its openwork and at the same time quite clearly defined numerous inflorescences of bright raspberry-red colour are perfectly combined with many perennial flower crops.
1,0 g = 500 seeds.

Agricultural technology: sowing in late April - early May for seedlings or in the ground. Plants are planted in a permanent place in July - August at a distance of 50-60 cm.
After the first wave of flowering, inflorescences with fading flowers are cut to the top good leaf on the stem, after some time flowering resumes.
In order for flowering to resume and be more abundant, it is recommended to fertilize the plant once every 2 weeks. In autumn, faded stems are cut to the bottom.
Centranthus prefers sunny, hot places.
Description: a very interesting perennial, distinguished by long flowering, is quite rare in our gardens.
Homeland: Mediterranean and Portugal. They prefer warm, rocky areas, walls, rocks. This plant has a short, woody, multi-headed rhizome and loosely arranged leafy stems from 60 to 100 cm high. The bush grows to 60 cm in width. The leaves are opposite, petiolate below, sessile, oval, serrated along the edge, glaucous-green higher up the stem. Numerous fragrant small flowers (their diameter does not exceed 1 cm) are collected in terminal, branched, large, dome-shaped inflorescences. The main color of the corolla is pink-red, there is a form with white flowers.
Flowering is long: from June to autumn.
Known varieties: Coccineus - bright crimson flowers on plants 75-80 cm high, Albiflorus - snow-white flowers.
Location: prefers areas in a sunny, warm, and also hot place. Winter hardiness zones: Z5-Z9.
Soil: moderately dry, fresh, well-drained, pH 6.8 - 7.8.
Care: after the first wave of flowering, inflorescences with fading flowers are cut to the top good leaf on the stem, after some time flowering resumes. In autumn, faded stems are cut to the bottom. Plants are mulched with humus or compost and covered with spruce branches and film in case of snowless frosts and winter dampness during thaws.
Centranthus is short-lived: every three years it has to be renewed from seeds. Often gives abundant self-seeding. So, in the spring, when weeding, you need to be careful and, having found seedlings, plant them in a bed for growing.
Reproduction: by seeds and dividing the bush. Sow before winter - in September, and after the first frosts, mulch with dry leaves. It can be sown in late April-early May for seedlings or in the ground. Plants are planted in a permanent place in July-August at a distance of 50-60 cm. Self-seeding often occurs.
Use: in addition to sunny flower beds, it is suitable for planting on dry slopes, in rock gardens, on stone retaining walls, along the edges of stone, sunny steps, in roof gardens, in plantings between tiles of paved paths and sites. Its openwork and at the same time quite clearly defined numerous inflorescences combine perfectly with many perennial flower crops that bloom during the same period of time.
Partners: Aster amellus, Centaurea dealbata, Echinops, Nepeta, Salvia nemorosa.

Red valerian, bouncing bess, bovisand soldier, delicate bess, drunken sailor, Jupiter's beard, pink valerian, pretty betsy, red-spur valerian. Bot. syn.: Kentranthus ruber (L.), Valeriana coccinea hort., Valeriana rubra L.