noun
1. : a tall perennial rhizomatous herb ( Valeriana officinalis ) that is native to Europe and northern Asia but widely naturalized as an escape and has very fragrant tiny white, pinkish, lavender, or sometimes red flowers in large paniculate corymbs and roots and rhizomes which yield the drug valerian — called also valerian
2. : a shrubby Peruvian heliotrope ( Heliotropium arborescens ) widely cultivated in mild regions for its very fragrant usually lilac or violet flowers — called also common heliotrope