Valeriana phu - a perennial mache, corn salad ?

[Max Holzapfel]

Hi everyone,

i recently came across Valeriana phu. I read about it on a french permaculture Blog (jardin foret du chambon) and was wondering about it for quite some time now. There seems to be only one commercial variety available ("aurea") as potted plant but no seed.
Now I got some from a genebank and plan on growing it out this year.

Do you have any experience growing this plant or even ever tried it?
I´m happy about any hint or advice since i can´t really find anything out there, except for the excellent PFAF site. 

I´m really interested in its perenniality and as good crop to close the "hunger gap".

Thank you

[Adrian]

I think already have see this plant, she seem well in humid and loams soils.She up to seed when the soil dryed.
Sh hate the heat.

The conditions are probably near of a mache fresh and humids conditions.
https://www.quatremoineaux.be/2020/10/le-legume-du-dimanche-la-valeriane-phu-ou-mache-vivace.html
https://jardinage.pagesjaunes.fr/plante/voir/77/mache

[Max Holzapfel]

Thanks Adrian,

the pictures on "quatremoineaux" look quite promising:)
I can imagine it behaves a bit like Valeriana officinalis when it comes to flowering and location.
The "aurea" variety is also sold as an (semi-)aquatic plant in Germany.

[Richard Watson]

Interesting to learn there is a perennial corn salad cultivar. How close is it related to the garden weed type Valerianella locusta.

Sounds like Valeriana phu would do well in large pots under tree cover

[Max Holzapfel]

Hi Richard,

Pfaf cites a book that claims it beeing closely related to Valeriana officinalis.
Couldn´t find any further hints on Vallerianella locusta being a relative.
But i´ve read now several times that people eat it in moderation like V.locusta.

I imagine it to be like Valeriana officinalis. A bit bitter and astringent but i´m exited to see if i like it and if there is room for improvement.
I´ll try to keep this section updated while i´m growing it out.

[galina gardiner]

Given how readily valeriana officinalis self seeds, it is effectively acting like a perennial already.  No work required at all to keep it going year after year, apart from harvesting.  Its self seeding feature does close the hungry gap for us, until the lettuces take over again. At the moment I pull a small bowl full most days (February).

I am interested to learn how the perennial form differs from the annual. Does aureus mean that it has yellow leaves?