red valerian

American  

noun

1. a bushy valerian, Centranthus ruber, of Europe and southwestern Asia, having many fragrant red, crimson, or white flowers.

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Etymology

Origin of red valerian

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Even the red valerian, that sprouts so boldly in bushes of coral from the top of the wall, is regarded by some people as a weed and an impudent intruder.

From The Pleasures of Ignorance by Lynd, Robert

Masses of red valerian, and some of the graceful bright rose-bay willow-herb, give colour to the banks and overhang the walls.

From Devon, Its Moorlands, Streams and Coasts by Northcote, Rosalind

Presently we turned up byways, over which the prickly-pear and red valerian broke in profuse and unprecise beauty—fleshy-leaved creepers, too, as of a house-leek turned passion-flower, over-crowned all with scarlet blotches of cunningly placed colour.

From Bog-Myrtle and Peat Tales Chiefly of Galloway Gathered from the Years 1889 to 1895 by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

A mellow brick wall enclosed the orchard, a wall beautified by small green ferns, by pink and red valerian, and yellow toadflax.

From Antony Gray,—Gardener by Moore, Leslie

For myself, I love the spectacle of stone walls breaking out into flower with red valerian and ivy-leaved toad-flax.

From The Pleasures of Ignorance by Lynd, Robert