Is this a weed?

[Jessesgirl13]

Just moved house and a have a lovely established garden that has been let go a bit! So im trying to trim everything back and get rid of the weeds. I have a lot of the below - is it a weed?

Its very common here near the sea. It grows wild but people do also encourage it in their gardens. Have some in mine. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along!

That's valerian OP. Comes in white and various shades of pink.
I don't really go along with anything being a weed - if you like it, it's not a weed. Personally I love valerian and I'd happily have it in my garden. It loves growing in walls. Sticks out very cheerily at this time of year and always makes me think of pink and white icecreams.

Thanks for the replies! Seems like Valerian is more like a wild flower than a weed then. Its popping up all over my garden, but agree the flowers are rather pretty! Think i'll dig out the bits that have gone a bit rogue but maybe keep some of the rest

It can get out of hand, and be destructive. It's breaking up the tarmac of the footpath outside our house so I would be careful about where you let it spread.

A plant, any plant, is only a weed if its growing somewhere you don't want it.
Valerian is lovely but can take over.

I'd leave it, but pull it out where it appears in unwanted places, same as I do with feverfew, aquilegia or melissa (lemon balm).

Red valerian is much-loved by hummingbird hawk moths!

Red valerian. Free herbal medicine & pretty with it too

Be aware that they develop very large and deep roots and once established, particularly in cracks, it's near impossible to get rid of. So make sure you want it where you decide to leave it be! I have lots - not all wanted....

According to my friend it definitely is a weed.

I have plenty red valerian in my garden. I certainly encouraged it to begin but as others have said it can be prolific and self seed everywhere.

I happily uproot and bin any that is surplus to requirement. Probably best not to compost the seed heads!

I have Valerian growing along the edge of my house and drive. It’s very well behaves and hasn’t affected the tarmac. People stop to admire it.
If seedings pop up elsewhere, and they do, I just pull them out.

Everyone (1) is calling it "Valerian" but it's actually Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) not Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), which is a wild plant with segmented leaves and bigger pale pink flowers.

(1) apols to jasmine, Shithouse and Doormat