Plants for Water Wise Pollinator Gardens: Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber) – Water Conservation for Lawn and Landscape

Plant Family

Valerian Family (Valerianaceae)

Common Names

Jupiter’s beard, Red valerian, Keys of Heaven

Description

Attractive herbaceous perennial plant native to the Mediterranean region of North Africa, Asia Minor, and Europe
Classified as a sub-shrub due to woody tissue that develops at the base of the plant
Plants grow from 2 to 3 feet high and wide
Reddish pink flower clusters bloom during late spring and through the summer (A white cultivar is also available)
Deadheading will keep flowers blooming longer
Does best in full sun
Generally cold hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8 but it will grow in Zone 4
Needs no additional fertilizer
Tolerates a wide range of well drained soil types

mass of pink red flowers — Jupiter’s beard used in a mass planting Photo source: Water Wise Plants for Utah Landscapes UTAH.gov Services

Note: This plant can become a nuisance in the garden. Clip (deadhead) flowers before they set seed to prevent /reduce re-seeding or be vigilant about removing seedlings.

Attracts

Bees
Moths
Butterflies

Butterfly feeding on a pink flower — Painted Lady butterfly feeding on Jupiter’s beard flower. Photo credit: nz_willowherb Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Moth feeding on a pink flower — Hawk moth feeding on Jupiter’s beard flower Photo credit: penguinbush Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Additional Resources:

Midwest

Missouri Botanical Center

Southwest

Texas – ‘Coccineus’ Valerian, Jupiter’s Beard