Spur valerian (Valeriana rubra syn. Centranthus ruber), the red valerian, kiss-me-quick, fox's brush, devil's beard or Jupiter's beard, is a popular garden plant grown for its ornamental flowers. The plant is usually woody at the base. Green leaves grow in opposite pairs. Plant flowers profusely, and though the individual flowers are tiny, the inflorescences are large and showy. Flowers are small in rounded clusters each with five fused petals and a spur. The most typical color is a brick red or purplish red, but colors include deep crimson, pale pink, and lavender. The blooms have a strong and somewhat rank scent. Seeds have tufts similar to dandelions that allow wind dispersal, and as such can self-seed freely and become invasive if not properly controlled.
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