Flower profile
Sitka valerian
Valeriana sitchensis
Sitka valerian is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Washington it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Washington
Quick look
Valeriana sitchensis is a species of valerian known by the common name Sitka valerian. It is native to northwestern North America from Alaska and northern Canada to Montana to northern California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including moist mountain forests. In moist subalpine meadows, it is often one of the most common plants.
- It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Washington. NatureServe
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,107 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #56 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
Sitka valerian gift ideas
Handmade sitka valerian gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Sitka valerian art print
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Sitka valerian greeting card
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Sitka valerian mug
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Sitka valerian earrings
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Sitka valerian embroidery pattern
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Sitka valerian sticker
When does it bloom?
In Washington, most flowering sightings come in May–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records sitka valerian in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.
Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Yakima.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile VASI.
- iNaturalist, Valeriana sitchensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Valeriana sitchensis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Valeriana sitchensis (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: giantcicada via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.