I grow Valerian.
It does spread a lot!

Thanks. I'm still "iffy" on whether or not to let it in my garden.

But it does smell wonderful!

And cats love the scent of the roots, too, like catnip to them. When I lived in Massachusetts and divided a clump of it once, I could hardly keep my old cat away. When I turned my back for a moment, he stole a piece and was carrying it off like prey.

This is one of the plants from my mother's garden that I still have from her sharing. It's gone to 3 homes with me. Garden Heliotrope is what she called it though I think that valerian officinalis is its scientific name. I grew up in Indianapolis and as a teacher through the years it bloomed on Memorial Day and I gardened like a mad woman that weekend, listening to the race on the radio and smelling Valerian. After its bloom is over I always pull out the bloom stem, roots and all and always have enough that renews itself year after year. Mom passed away in 1990 so you see I've had it for a long time. Chris

I grew it in northern Indiana. In my sandy soil, it spread but not rampantly. The single plant eventually filled a space about 3 feet in diameter, but it didn't reseed anywhere else. I loved that plant and its fragrance! When the breeze was right, I could smell it from 50 feet away. What a joy.