From spring until fall, Culver's root offers vertical height and whorls of lance-shaped, vibrant green leaves. Come summer, the herbaceous perennial undergoes a magical transformation. Graceful wands of white flowers bloom for over a month atop 6-foot stems, attracting scores of pollinator species. Indeed, monarchs are known to favor Culver’s root as a nectar source during the height of summer. The long, erect spikes are densely packed with tiny, tubular flowers that open from the bottom of the spike upwards. The main spike is surrounded by several smaller spikes, giving the plant a candelabra-like effect when in full bloom. In the wild, Culver's root is often found in open, sunny areas with moist to average, well-drained soils ranging from sandy to clay. It thrives in full sun and appreciates consistent moisture; the lower leaves turn yellow when the soil becomes too dry. This long-lived plant takes a few years to become fully established. Depending on conditions, it grows 4 to 6 feet tall and about half as wide. It may be floppier in shadier areas and require staking or support from nearby plants, but it grows strongly upright in full sun. Few diseases or pests bother the plant, including deer, so this is a great choice for areas with large populations of these increasingly voracious herbivores.
Veronicastrum is in the family Plantaginaceae. It's the only species in this genus that is native to North America, and it occurs throughout the eastern US, especially in the prairie states along the Mississippi River. The name Veronicastrum refers to this species' resemblance to plants in the genus Veronica. It resembles a large Veronica, except its leaves are in whorls on the stems rather than growing opposite. Virginicum denotes the plant's initial discovery in Virginia. The common name probably refers to a pioneer physician of that name who advocated for medicinal use of the roots. The bitter root is known for its purgative properties due to a compound known as leptandrin.
Native habitats include open woods, moist meadows, swampy meadows along river banks, and prairies. Use in naturalized areas, meadows, or along woodland edges. Great for butterfly, cottage, cutting, native, pollinator, and rain gardens and also for large containers. Cut the spent flowers to the rosette for possible rebloom in the fall. Divide clumps in late fall or early spring.
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 4-7' tall and 2-4' wide.
Prefers full to part sun.
Grows in a wide range of well-drained, moist to average soils, including loamy, sandy, and clay. Tolerates occasionally wet conditions.
For 4-6 weeks between June and August, spike clusters up to 10" long are packed with 4-parted, tubular, white flowers, each about 1/4" long, with 2 yellow or brown-tipped stamens. Woody capsules contain small, wind-dispersed seeds.
Leaves are whorled in groups of 3 to 7, with 4 or 5 most common. Each leaf is up to 8" long, tapering to a point at both ends, with little or no leaf stalk. The underside of the leaves is hairy and the margins are finely serrated.
The main stem is smooth and round.
Reproductive System: flower contains both male and female parts (perfect/bisexual). It's self-compatible (produces viable seeds through self-pollination) but benefits from cross-pollination, which promotes genetic diversity.
Wildlife Value:
Host plant for larvae of the burdock borer moth, the endangered Culver's root borer, and specialist metallic coleophora moth. Charles Robertson documented 43 different species pollinating Culver’s root. Long- and short-tongued bees collect pollen and nectar, as do honey, bumble, mason, green metallic, and masked bees. Other visitors include thread-waisted wasps, butterflies, moths, syrphid flies—and even hummingbirds, which are drawn to the nectar-rich flowers. Resistant to deer!
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Various Native American nations had many medicinal uses for Culver's root. It was used as a cathartic and to treat constipation, coughs, fevers, backaches, rheumatism, typhus, and other ailments. The Menomini used it to purge the body of evil spirits.
Resources:
Columbus Dispatch
Minnesota Wildflowers
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/culvers-root
Missouri Botanical Garden
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g180
North Carolina Extension
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/veronicastrum-virginicum/
Plants for a Future
US Forest Service
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/veronicastrum_virginicum.shtml
