Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

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Phlox Subulata (moss pink) in landscape. Photo © Elaine Mills

PERENNIAL: Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s Root) 

Basal leaves of Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) in February.
Clumps of Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in June.
Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) intermixed with wildflowers in June on the grounds of the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsyvania.
3–7 leaves per whorl on native Veronicastrum virginicum (culver's-root)
Purplish candelabra-like inflorescences of Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) at Simpson Park Demonstration Garden in June
Buds on developing spikes or spikelike racemes of Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) in July.
Common eastern bumble bees feeding on the tiny tubular flowers with exerted stamens of Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) in July.
Whorled leaf arrangement of native Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) in August.
Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root) capsule spires in September.

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Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic 

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Elegant, adaptable, easy-to-grow Culver’s-root inhabits stream banks, moist meadows, and prairies in the eastern* and central U.S. concentrated in the Great Lakes region. The striking, candelabra-like inflorescences add vertical structure, and the whorled leaves horizontal lines, to the landscape. Flowers attract a myriad of pollinators for about a month in summer.

*In the Mid-Atlantic region, it is native to DC, MD, and PA. It is historical in DE. In VA, it is infrequent in the mountains and the Piedmont. In NoVA, it is not reported in Arlington County and in Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax cities.

Did you know that Culver’s-root leaves are arranged in groups of 3–7 that all arise from the same node?

Learn more about Veronicastrum virginicum and about whorl…

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