Tobacco Root (Valeriana obovata)

Family: Valerianaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Valeriana obovata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

taste that is offensive to some people but agreeable to others. — It requires a long steaming.; The Indians would slow-bake it for about 2 days.; A very strong and peculiar taste that is offensive to some people but agreeable to others.; The root can be cooked and then dried and ground into a powder.

Habitat & North American Range

Open moist sites, moist meadows, ditches, swamps and prairies, sometimes on saline soils. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)