Botanical Name: Centranthus ruber
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Common Name: Jupiter's Beard, Red Valerian  
Plant photo of: Centranthus ruber
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Water Saving Tip:

Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink, Red, White

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Seascape, Spanish, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Parking Strip

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Susan Frommer/Jacobs
  • Description

  • Notes

An old fashioned favorite, Jupiter's Beard is a dependable perennial with a long season of bloom and a tough constitution. Blooms most heavily in late spring to early summer, with periodic water and some deadheading, it will bloom nearly all summer. Flower color ranges from carmine red to rose red; there is also a white-flowered variety. Foliage is lush green and fleshy. Grow in sun to part shade in any well drained soil. Excellent cut flower, it is also attractive to butterflies. Grows 24 to 36 inches tall and about 30 inches wide.
Not fussy about its surroundings, Jupiter's Beard is at home in a xeric garden or a more traditional perennial border, though it will have a longer bloom season when periodic watering is provided. Deadheading will increase the season of bloom; see guide for more information. If happy in the garden, it will spread by seed and stolon, which can be a good thing, though sometimes a little too much so.