Centranthus ruber (L.) DC., Valerianaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 10 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Valeriana rubra L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Jupiter's beard, fox's brush, kiss-me-quick, red valerian, spur valerian

French: lilas d'Espagne, valériane rouge

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Glabrous perennial herb; stems 30-80 cm tall, ascending, robust, usually glaucous, branching from base. Leaves opposite, cauline, variable on one plant; lower leaves of main stem lanceolate, 3-10-(17) x 1-3-(5) cm, entire, petiolate; upper leaves of main stem deltate-acuminate to ovate, smaller than lower leaves, often irregularly toothed, amplexicaul; leaves of side shoots smaller, ovate-lanceolate, usually amplexicaul. Cyme up to 25 x 10 cm, of many, pedicellate flowers. Flowers usually deep pink to magenta, sometimes white. Corolla tube 5-10 mm long, somewhat > spur. Fruit narrow-ovoid, flattened, 3-4 mm long"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 1269).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand, "roadsides, embankments, cliffs, wasteland, coastal habitats"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 1269).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Canary and Madeira Islands, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, southern Europe; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) Voucher cited: A. N. Rodd 1485 (NSW) "Presumably a garden escape".
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 552)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1315) Naturalized and common in Pōhaku o Ka Lā Gulch, East Maui.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Cultivated as an ornamental, sometimes naturalized".
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Cultivated as an ornamental, sometimes naturalized".
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Cultivated as an ornamental, sometimes naturalized".
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 1269)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) New Mexico, Utah

Control:  If you know of control methods for Centranthus ruber, please let us know.