CENTRANTHUS ruber. Valerian. "Jupiter's Beard". Europe, Asia Minor. An old fashioned, semishrubby perennial, now seen mostly where it has naturalized on roadcuts around the Bay Area. It is closely branched and nearly dome shaped as an older plant, with large oval bluish green or grey green leaves. For several weeks in spring and summer it produces a succession of tiny blossoms, dark red to white, in large clusters at the shoot tips. A pleasant and at times extremely showy plant for borders and open spots, such as bank plantings. Sun, nearly any soil, moderate to no supplemental watering when established. Hardy to around 15^oF.