<em>Veronicastrum virginicum</em>, Virginia veronica: to plant, to grow

Description and botany

Native to fresh meadows, riverbanks and damp ditches and floodplains of eastern United States, notably Virginia and Florida through to Arkansas, Veronicastrum virginicum or Virginia speedwell is a large deciduous herbaceous member of family Scrophulariaceae, a close relative of speedwells.

This small genus includes only two species appreciating moist mediums, among them Veronicastrum sibiricum and Veronicastrum virginicum, the best-known species, although still too little grown! Its lavender flowering is available in several cultivars in pink, white, pale lavender or lilac, the best-known being probably Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’.

Veronicastrum virginicum quickly forms a handsome upright bushy clump made of numerous stems reaching from 1 m to 1.80 m tall with about 70 cm spread, depending on variety. It takes around two to three years to fill out properly but eventually forms slender clumps that occupy little ground. Longer-lived than veronica, it can live for decades, sometimes longer.

Deciduous foliage consists of linear leaves arranged 3 to 6 per whorl (star-shaped) regularly along stems. Lanceolate leaflets, rough and dentate, are a lovely dark green sometimes flushed purple.

On this elegant foliage, Veronicastrum virginicum produces a long, very graceful summer flowering. From June to September–October depending on climate, flowering spikes shaped like a candle about 20–25 cm long appear at tips of ramified stems. They are made up of a myriad of tiny tubular flowers with very prominent stamens that give them a downy appearance. A particularly bright, dancing display that earned the genus its name Veronicastrum, meaning in Latin “true star”.

Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Lavendelturm’

These very pale lavender inflorescences on Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Lavendelturm’, vivid pink (Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Pink Glow’), soft pink in ‘Roseum’, lilac in ‘Fascination’, sometimes white ‘Album’, or pink-tinged white, make excellent cut flowers for fresh bouquets and last around ten days in a vase.

Some, such as ‘Erika’, offer a changing gradient of shades from pale pink to fading purple as season progresses.

Very nectariferous, they attract butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects continuously from summer into autumn.

These flowers are followed by formation of small ovoid dehiscent fruits. These dried spikes hanging on stems extend decorative interest into cold season, glittering with frost.

Hardy down to -20°C, Veronicastrum virginicum grows widely across France, except perhaps in Mediterranean climate, too dry and hot in summer: its only requirement is permanently moist soil. It prefers dappled sun or partial shade and tolerates any good garden soil that is deep, fertile and cool.

With its light, statuesque silhouette, Veronicastrum virginicum brings a rustic, structural touch to all natural gardens.

It is particularly at home in wetter spots and works wonders by pond edges, as background in cool borders, along shaded paths, and in gardens for cut flowers.

Main species and varieties

Most popular

Our favourites

Veronicastrum virginicum Fascination

A huge cultivar offering a long summer flowering of soft, downy pink spikes with blue highlights. Plant in moist, even waterlogged soil and in dappled shade.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 1,40 m

See the product sheet

Veronicastrum virginicum Album

Architectural, this variety is perfect for providing a light accompaniment to other, more vivid flowerings and light-coloured foliage. Ideal at back of borders.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

See the product sheet

Veronicastrum virginicum Pink Glow

A large perennial with graceful, downy-looking pale pink spikes. Airy, statuesque, it will establish at back of borders, on banks and around water features.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 1,40 m

See the product sheet

Veronicastrum virginicum Erica

This variety is distinguished by long flower spikes with changing colours, offering a beautiful gradient of pink tones throughout the season. Prized at back of borders, in shade of large trees or by a pond.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 1,40 m

See the product sheet

Veronicastrum virginicum Lavendelturm

This cultivar displays very pale lavender-blue flowers. Ideal for adding verticality to borders and around water features.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 1,40 m

See the product sheet

Veronicastrum Red Arrows

We love this cultivar, which offers a gradient of pink tones. It provides valuable verticality to back of borders where soil stays cool.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Veronicastrum virginicum?

Native to floodplains of eastern United States, Veronicastrum virginicum acclimatises easily in our gardens, hardy to at least -15°C.

For aspect, it prefers non-scorching sun or partial shade, especially in southern regions. Its only requirement is permanently moist, humus-bearing, deep and fertile soil, even clayey. It can tolerate summer heat provided soil remains consistently moist and cool.

Taller than wide, although Veronicastrum virginicum occupies little ground space, give it a site sheltered from strong winds where it can show its full vertical habit and remain well ventilated, as it dislikes root competition. Avoid disturbing it once well rooted, as it will not appreciate being moved.

In garden, it will come into its own as an understorey plant, planted in shade of deciduous trees, beside water features or on a damp bank, which it will brighten with its luminous flowering.

With its light, structural silhouette, it is also perfect for adding breath, movement and verticality to large rockeries, the back of perennial beds whose flowering it lightens, or mixed borders, provided soil never dries out in summer. In a cut-flower garden, it will form lanes or flowering shrubs abundant in blooms for cutting.

Graphic foliage of Veronicastrum virginicum

When to plant?

Plant Veronicastrum virginicum from February to April after frosts or from September to November, after hot spells.

How to plant?

In open ground

Plant in staggered pattern at least 5 plants per m², spaced 40 to 60 cm apart. For a striking effect, we recommend planting in small groups.

• Soak the rootball in a bucket before planting
• Remove roots and stones from the soil
• Fork the soil deeply
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the rootball
• Add some compost to garden soil
• Place the rootball and backfill without burying the collar
• Firm the soil then water generously
• Mulch to keep soil cool

Maintenance, pruning and care

Hardy and more vigorous than Veronica, Veronicastrum virginicum needs little care once well established in fresh soil. Cool, moist soil is essential for good growth.

Water regularly during weeks following planting, then in summer and especially during prolonged hot spells. Ensure soil never dries out completely. Mulch in June with a layer of turf to keep soil cool around the base, and renew this mulch during summer if necessary.

Fertilise each year in early spring or autumn with compost.

Cut clump back in autumn or leave dried spikes in place throughout winter, in which case carry out this operation in March.

Faded spikes of Veronicastrum remain decorative in autumn and winter

Not very prone to diseases, it may only be affected by powdery mildew recognisable by the white felt this fungus leaves on foliage. Spray preventatively with Bordeaux mixture, as well as nettle and horsetail manure and follow our advice to fight powdery mildew.

Multiplication

Veronicastrum virginicum multiplies very easily by dividing clumps. This is done in March or October and only when plant is well rooted, usually after 4–5 years in ground.

• Using a digging fork, lift part of clump
• With a spade or by hand, separate a good-sized division including leaves and roots
• Replant these divisions immediately in garden

Companion planting for Culver's root

With its tall, graceful, vibrant silhouette, Veronicastrum virginicum brings rhythm and structural emphasis to natural-style gardens and charms soft-focus country-style or meadow-like gardens. It is perfect for brightening cool areas of the garden, creating ethereal flowering masses. Planted in small groups, it provides striking verticality in harmonious mixes of cool, pink, lilac or white colours, or in more complementary yellow/lavender pairings.

It particularly favours the wettest spots and will excel at the edge of a water feature but also in large perennial beds, where it lightens the flowering displays.

On pond margins, combine it with other perennials for damp banks, with the pink or white, airy plumes of Astilbes, Vernonias, goatsbeard, Liatris spicata, Meadowsweet, Siberian irises or bright yellow Lysimachias, ligularias, and acid-yellow marsh euphorbias for a more contrasting effect.

An example of a natural pairing: Veronicastrum virginicum var. album, Geranium ‘Patricia’, Alchemilla mollis, rose, Centranthus ruber ‘Albus’

In a meadow-style naturalistic planting, accompany your Veronicastrum virginicum with other wild-looking perennials such as Asters, river thistles, hardy geraniums paludal, Leucanthemums, and Epilobiums.

In a large border, in scenes of delicacy and lightness, it pairs with the spikes of grasses such as Calamagrostis Brachytricha (Feather Reed Grass) and with Molinia or tufted hairgrass, and with giant, airy perennials such as paeoniums and Buenos Aires verbenas.

In a slightly wild mixed border, it will form elegant clumps among summer-flowering perennials such as Hastate verveins, Virginia ephemerals, Eupatoriums, Mimulus, Knautias, knotweeds, or the bristly heads of Echinaceas. Veronicastrum virginicum also slips easily between Digitalis and Phlox of varied colours.

Its moving spikes form a pleasing contrast when paired with plants with large foliage and a more upright habit, such as Hostas or ferns such as Osmundas.

In a pink garden or a romantic border, it will sit well with Japanese anemones, Achilleas, flowering until autumn, and will be an attractive partner for roses.

It will stand out against the dark purple foliage of Acers, Nandina or a Physocarpus.