What hardiness zones is Veronicastrum virginicum suitable for?

Veronicastrum virginicum is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Veronicastrum virginicum?

Veronicastrum virginicum requires Part Sun.

How much water does Veronicastrum virginicum need?

Veronicastrum virginicum has Medium water needs.

Perennials

Veronicastrum virginicum

culver's root

Plantaginaceae

Eastern North America — Ontario and Manitoba south to Georgia, Louisiana, and Kansas; moist prairies, wet meadows, and open woodland edges

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height4-7 feet (120-210 cm)

Width2-3 feet (60-90 cm)

Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 8

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Native to North America

Maintenancelow

Overview

A tall, upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the family Plantaginaceae, native to moist prairies, meadows, open woodland edges, and stream margins of eastern North America, from Ontario and Manitoba south to Georgia, Louisiana, and Kansas. Plants form sturdy, slowly spreading clumps of erect stems 4–7 feet (120–210 cm) tall clothed in distinctive whorls of 3–6 lance-shaped, sharply toothed, dark green leaves 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long at regular intervals up the stem — the whorled leaf arrangement is the most diagnostic identification feature. In July through September, the upper portion of each stem branches into multiple slender, tapering racemes 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) long bearing hundreds of tiny, four-petaled, white to pale lilac flowers opening progressively from the base of each spike upward. A single mature plant may carry 20–30 simultaneous spikes. The dried seed heads and stem architecture persist attractively through fall and winter. A key plant in Piet Oudolf's naturalistic plantings and in native plant restoration. Non-toxic in ordinary garden contact.

Native Range

Native to moist prairies, wet meadows, open woodland edges, and stream margins across eastern North America, from Ontario and Manitoba south to Georgia, Louisiana, and Kansas, growing in moist to seasonally wet, humus-rich soils in full sun to partial shade.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a back-of-border specimen, prairie garden anchor, or naturalistic planting structural element at 24–36 inch (60–90 cm) spacing. A signature plant in Piet Oudolf's New Perennial movement plantings, valued for tiered whorled foliage, multiplicity of simultaneous tapering spikes, and persistent winter skeleton. Effective with Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Sanguisorba, ornamental grasses, and Phlox paniculata. Cultivar 'Fascination' (soft lavender-pink) and 'Album' (white) are recommended for ornamental gardens.

How to Identify

Identified by tall, erect stems 4–7 feet (120–210 cm) bearing distinctive whorls of 3–6 lance-shaped, sharply toothed, dark green leaves at regular intervals up the stem — the tiered whorled leaf arrangement is unique among common garden perennials. In July through September, multiple slender tapering spikes 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) long of tiny white to pale lilac tubular flowers crown each stem, opening progressively from the base upward. No other commonly cultivated tall perennial combines this whorled leaf pattern with multiple tapering terminal spikes.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4' - 7'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

lavender

lilac

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

SummerFall

Blooms July through September for 6–8 weeks, with slender tapering spikes opening progressively from the base upward. A mature clump of 5–9 stems may carry 20–40 simultaneous spikes. In the Pacific Northwest, bloom begins in early July and extends through mid-September. The dried stem-and-spike architecture persists through fall and winter, providing structural interest and serving as seed for finches and sparrows.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale lilac; hundreds of tiny four-petaled tubular flowers in slender tapering racemes 4–8 inches long, opening base to tip; 20–40 simultaneous spikes on a mature plant

Foliage Description

dark green; lance-shaped, sharply toothed, 3–6 inches; in whorls of 3–6 at regular intervals up the stem — tiered whorled arrangement is the diagnostic feature

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamclaypeat

Drainage

moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist to average, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acid soil with a pH of 5.5–7.0. Tolerates consistently moist soils and performs well near water features or in rain gardens. In the Pacific Northwest, thrives in average to moist garden soils with supplemental irrigation during dry summers. Rich, moist soils produce the most impressive specimens. Avoid very dry, sandy soils. No staking required — the sturdy stems are self-supporting. Divide every 4–5 years in early spring.

Pruning

Leave the entire plant standing through fall and winter — the dried stems, whorled leaf attachment points, and persistent seed spikes provide significant structural interest and serve as finch and sparrow food. Cut all stems to 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) above ground in late winter (February–March) before new growth emerges. Divide every 4–5 years in early spring: lift and separate the crown into sections with several shoots each, replant at 24–36 inch (60–90 cm) spacing.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic