Veronicastrum for grace
Very upright yet self-supporting, these handsome plants add grace to a border with pointed flower spikes opening in a candalabra formation above whorls of long, pointed leaves. They are wonderful for encouraging bees into the garden.
Left to right: Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album' , Veronicastrum virginicum 'Erica', Veronicastrum sibircum 'Red Arrows' , Veronicastrum virginicum 'Pink Glow'
When Do Veronicastrum Bloom?
Being tall, Veronicastrum start to bloom during July and August.
Veronicastrum Flowers, Leaves & Form
Veronicastrum, when mature form large upright clumps. Each tall, very stiff stems, which can be green or bronze in colour, ends in long, tapering spires of tiny flowers. The flowers range from rich lilac through to white. Lilac flower spikes are often paler in colour towards the bottom of the spike and with some vareities the buds may be white. Below the first flower spike are rings of further spikes that radiate outwards to form what I refer to as a candalabra. Below these are rings of long, pointed, mid-green that create a very decorated plant.
Where Does the Veronicastrum Come From?
Veronicastrum virginicum, which is the most commonly type found in gardens, originates from North America, where it grows in wet prairies, meadows and near woodland. Commonly known as 'Culver's root' it was used by North American Cherokee to cure, among other ailments, back ache and typhus. Where the common name comes from know one is quite sure. Veronicastrum sibiricum, which is similar to V. virginicum but flowers before it, can be found growing in eastern Asia.
Veronicastrum Planting Guide
Where To Grow Veronicastrum Plants
Being natives of damp areas, Veronicastrum thrive in soils that do not dry out entirely during summer. They don't mind being in part shade, but will quite naturally grow toward the light if the sun is limited to a few hours a day in summer.
Veronicastrum Care
Once established, Veronicastrum are extremely easy to grow, long-lived and need almost no attention. When the flowers fade, the old flower spikes can be cut back to the next ring of leaves. In time more flower spikes with gradually appear. These are never as lovely as the first flush, but it's well-worth the effort to get more colour. Sometimes the flower spikes flatten out towards the end. This is called faciation, and makes me wonder if this is why one Veronicastrum is called 'Fascination'.
Left to right: Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' showing faciation, VVeronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination', Veronicastrum virginicum 'Pink Glow with Aster x frikartii 'Wunder Von Staffa,Veronicastrum virginicum 'Pink Glow and Astrantia major
What Plants are Veronicastrum Good With
In my garden I grow Veronicastrum with Astrantia, Aconitum, Hemerocallis, Sanguisorba, Thalictrum and almost any plant that needs upright spikes to compliment sprays of smaller flowers.
