Japanese name: カノコソウ（鹿子草） Scientific name:Valeriana fauriei
[Overview]
A perennial 40–80 cm tall, found in slightly moist grasslands in the mountains.
It has underground stems, and the roots have a distinctive fragrance.
The stem is thick and erect, with long white hairs at the nodes.
The leaves are opposite and pinnately divided to the base, and the margins of the lobes have deep serrations.
Many flowers are borne in cymes at the stem tips.
The corolla is 0.3 cm across and 0.4–0.7 cm long, 5-lobed, and pink.
The stamens protrude from the corolla.
The inflorescence bears linear bracts.
The fruit is an achene with a white pappus.
[Uses]
In addition to medicinal use, it is rarely used as a flavoring for tobacco.
[Cultivation]
Propagate mainly by division, though growing from seed is also possible.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil that retains water well.
It spreads by extending its underground stems, so for plants in the ground it is better to make a frame underground to keep it from multiplying too much.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and even during dormancy water enough that the soil does not dry out completely.
In spring, place slow-release fertilizer or oil cake on the soil, and make sure no fertilizer remains in summer.
