Health & Fitness
Hummingbirds in Heaven
By any name- Centranthus ruber, red Valerian, Jupiter's beard or Spur Valerian- plant it and the local hummingbirds will be drawn to your garden like it is the entrance to heaven.
An immigrant from dry Mediterranean hillsides, the magenta spires of red Valerian may be spotted thriving in wild drifts from San Diego northwards to Santa Barbara.
A hardy colonialist, Centranthus ruber is a plant that largely appreciates being allowed to do its own thing while you do yours.
Widely available in nurseries from 6 packs on up, if you dream of hummingbirds hovering in your garden, this is a must-buy. If pink isn't "your thing"- ask your nurseryman for the white variety. Situate yours in a sunny spot. Give it enough water to send its tap root down while the flowers go up.
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Once established, cut back the older flower spikes to the base of the plant. Stand back. It will rebel by sending up multitudes of what was just cut off: spires of nectar for hummingbirds in search of heaven.