Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, June 19, 2004.

Valeriana edulis likes high mountain sunny meadows where its large, nearly vertical basal leaves and tall gangly flower stalk are very visible.  As shown in the next photograph, basal leaves are prominently white along their margin.

In the photograph at left a young foot tall Valeriana edulis has a new, tightly closed flower head.  The flower head will open (see below) into a wide spray of many small flowers, and the nearly leafless stalk will elongate, commonly to a scraggly three or four feet.

David Douglas was the first to collect this plant for science in the present day Spokane area in the 1820s or early 1830s; it was named by Thomas Nuttall in 1841. "Edulis" is Latin for "edible".

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, June 19, 2004.

Look for prominent white edging on the long basal leaves of Valeriana edulis.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 30, 2004.

The tight cluster of flower buds shown in the photograph above of the full plant, gradually opens and the flower pedicels and peduncles lengthen giving the plant a very open and airy appearance.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 30, 2004.

Several 3 1/2 foot tall Valeriana edulis plants crowd each other at the 12,000 foot Sharkstooth Pass.  Each plant is about three feet across at the top.  Flowers are small in clusters spread along the very open and airy stems.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, July 23, 2005.

Quarter inch long plumules, the elongated and feathered styles, carry the seeds.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Valeriana edulis