[Heliotropes and Valerians: The Genus Valeriana in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Sitka Valerian, Mountain Heliotrope

Valeriana sitchensis

Synonyms: Valerianella sitchensis, Valeriana sitchensis ssp. sitchensis, Valeriana sitchensis var. hookeri, Valeriana sitchensis var. sitchensis

The photo at left shows a close-up of the inflorescence of Sitka valerian as seen on a small side road veering east off of the King Mt. Rd #200, immediately prior to reaching the Yakama Tract D Boundary.........May 28, 2005. The photo at right shows a close-up view of the inflorescence of Sitka valerian as seen from High Prairie, Badger Creek Wilderness......July 3, 2024.

The photo above shows a close-up of the stem leaves of Sitka valerian as seen on a small side road veering east off of the King Mt. Rd #200, immediately prior to reaching the Yakama Tract D Boundary.........May 28, 2005.

Masses of sitka valerian blooming at left along the Umbrella Falls Trail about one-quarter mile south of Umbrella Falls, Mt. Hood National Forest.........July 17, 2017. The photo at right shows sitka valerian in bloom along the McClellan Meadows Trail #157 about one mile west of the Indian Heaven Wilderness boundary, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.......July 4, 2020.

Basal leaves of Sitka valerian as seen along the Juniper Ridge Trail #261 in the Dark Divide, Gifford Pinchot National Forest............September 13, 2014.

Basal leaves of Sitka valerian and young stems arising from the ground as seen along the Eightmile Loop Trail, Mount Hood National Forest...........May 17, 2015.

Sitka valerian in bloom along the Timberline Trail on ski slopes at the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area.......July 6, 2019.

A close-up of the inflorescence of sitka valerian as seen at left along the Strawberry Mountain Trail #220, boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount Saint Helens National Monument..........June 21, 2015. The image at right shows the inflorescence of sitka valerian as seen in meadows in High Prairie, Badger Creek Wilderness.....August 18, 2024.

Paul Slichter