I have sowed this as well - after watching a lovely clump of it at the river's edge - does not appear to have seeded anywhere else and is a manageable size.. I love tall and airy perennials...and valerian certainly fits the bill.

Thanks, campanula. My friend doesn't seem to have any problems with it, so I think I will plant it, and just keep an eye on it for tendencies to seed around too much.

I've had this plant a long time. It seems to sort of disappear in the border not long after blooming--could probably use a haircut for a re-bloom, eh?

In my experience, it doesn't reseed or travel. I've found only one or two volunteers in many years.

This plant doesn't what I would call *flourish*, it sort of just *is.*

I got one valerian plant from a friend and really liked the large size of the plant and the flowers' lovely light scent. However, in my garden, where I am often lax about prompt deadheading, it spread fairly rapidly by seed, so I removed it after about a year and a half. For several years I had to do a careful weeding to remove all the seedlings, and even now, many years later, I still occassionally find a seedling.

It didn't travel by roots at all. Perhaps this is one of those plants that is only an issue under certain growing conditions.

I have had it for years as well. It doesn't travel but I do get seedlings from it but not enough that I would get rid of it. I like that it has a scent and you can smell it without have to get up close to it.

Also had it for a couple of years.

Got rid of it (1) as a seeder and (2) to replace it with more showy flowering perennials.

Think it liked our attention to watering.

It wasn't an excessive seeder.

I've had mine a couple years with nary a seedling in sight. Never heard of it seeding rampantly, though Centranthus (red valerian) is known to be more enthusiastic.

I adore my Valeriana. Clouds of creamy flowers that smell like a musky vanilla mix. Heavenly!
CMK

It self sows, but is not invasive.