Leaf
Jasper Shide (Jdshide) · CC0 1.0 (Domaine public / Public Domain Dedication)
Culver's root
Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw.
Also known as: Bowman's root
Family: Plantaginaceae
1 to 1.80 m tall
Damp meadows, garden perennial borders
Flowering: July – September
Full sun
Part shade
-30°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its leaves arranged in regular whorls around the stem give it a structural silhouette that is very recognisable even when not in flower.
🍃 Leaves
Lanceolate, toothed leaves arranged in regular whorls around the stem
🌸 Flowers
Slender upright spikes in white, pink or blue-violet, grouped like candelabras at the top of the stems
🍎 Fruits
Small dry capsules, inconspicuous
🪵 Bark
Upright, stiff, unbranched stems
🗺️ Distribution
Native to eastern North America; absent from the wild flora of France, grown in perennial gardens.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Spikes very rich in nectar, heavily visited by bees and bumblebees throughout their long flowering season.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Structured perennial borders, naturalistic gardens; elegant vertical candelabra silhouette, excellent group effect.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable known toxicity.
🌿 Other Plantaginaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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