Garden Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

• Also called garden heliotrope.
• Recently, this plant has spread quickly along roadsides and in fields, especially in Douglas and Bayfield Counties.
• Escaped medicinal garden plant.
• Fragrant.
• Plants are toxic to cattle. Cattle tend to avoid it.
• Concern that plants could be in hay. 
  • The toxicity in hay is unknown.
• Spreads in open and shaded habitats.

Characteristics

• 2-5 feet tall
• Numerous dense flower heads with small white flowers.
  • Five-part tubular flowers.
• Leaves
  • Pinnately compound leaves. (Leaves divided along center.)
  • Opposite.
  • Leaflets are toothed and lance-shaped

For more information go to the Wisconsin DNR website.