The plant is a hardy perennial growing to a height of 1–2 m. It bears sweet-scented white or pink flowers. Propagated from the seeds and from seedling plantings, valerian is to be harvested in the second year of growth. The vertical rhizomes of the valerian plant with horizontal branches or stolons at about the ground level are collected in autumn. They are washed in running water and the larger rhizomes are sliced and dried along with smaller rhizomes using artificial heat at temperatures not exceeding 40° C. For maximal activity the drug needs to be freshly harvested and carefully dried.