Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root)
$8.00
Out of stock
Size: 4-7’ tall / 2-4’ wide
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average, Medium-Wet
Bloom Time: Summer
Deer Resistance: 4/5
Ecotype: Unknown
Culver's Root is a long-lived, clump-forming perennial with graceful, upright spires of flowers, ranging in color from white to purple. It's upright structure adds strong vertical interest in plantings. The foliage is also attractive with whorls of 3-7 sharply-serrated leaves wrapping around the stems, gradually getting smaller as they progress up the stems. It's happiest in moist sites in part sun, but it is adaptable to average garden soil and even full sun conditions.
The flowers provide nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, moths, and flies, and several species of moths use it as a larval host plant. Two of these species are specialist whose larva depend on Culver's Root exclusively-- the Metallic Coleophora moth and the Culver's Root Borer moth. While relatively deer resistant, it is not entirely off their menus, as I've had mine nipped before. Planting Culver's Root in a meadow setting among grasses and other perennials will help protect it.