Rock-loving valerian

Family Valerianaceae. Native to Siberia, northern Mongolia. In the high-mountain belt on rocky and scree deposits, slopes, cliffs, in stony tundras, near glaciers.

Rhizome shortened, with long cord-like rootlets; stolons sometimes formed with a tuft of leaves at the end. Stems slightly curved or ascending, 5–20 cm long, 1/3 covered by leaf sheaths, bare below, above covered with very short hairs. The lower 2–3(4) pairs of leaves on fairly long petioles, crowded into an elevated rosette above the base of the stem, their blades lyrately pinnately dissected, with 2–4(6) pairs of small oblong entire-margined segments. Leaves of the uppermost pair small, sessile, with 2(3) pairs of very small lateral segments, sometimes entire. Inflorescence dense, racemose, almost head-like, usually expanding and becoming looser at fruiting. Bracts linear, obtuse, membranous at the margin. Flowers pink, 4–4.5 mm long. Fruits glabrous, 5–6 mm long.

Plant in rock crevices on the east-facing slope of the rock garden. The soil should be poor and well drained. In summer mulch the plantings with fine gravel. Seeds are sown in spring; seedlings appear within a month at 16–21°C. Can be propagated by dividing the clump in early spring and by cuttings in late spring.