Culver’s Root is a perennial Wildflower native to North America. Scientifically known as Veronicastrum virginicum, it typically grows 3-5′ tall in full sun and moist to medium-moist soil. Blooming showy spikes of white flowers for a month in Summer, it attracts numerous species of bees and butterflies[1][2][3][4].
Finding a showy white flower that blooms for a long time, but isn’t aggressive is no small feat. But Culver’s Root is just that – it makes tall spikes of white flowers in Summer that can really stand out. This plant should really be grown more – even by large commercial nurseries.
Adaptable in that it can be grown in sun or part-sun as long as it doesn’t totally dry out, the tall white Spikes really stand out as a single specimen in the middle of a flower bed, or when planted en mass. Furthermore, this is a very popular plant for pollinators, for bees in particular. And finally, it is very disease resistant and deer resistant. So – a tough native wildflower that helps the ecosystem, is pretty, and generally maintenance free.
It took me several different tries before I was able to grow it from seed successfully. I suspect this has to do with how the seed was stored from the seed supplier, but that is just a suspicion. Nonetheless I was able to get it to bloom for the first time in 2024!
Native Range
The Native Range of Culver’s Root covers much of Eastern North America. From Northwest Texas to Southern Manitoba & Ontario, then East to the Atlantic Ocean[1].
Reference Table
| Scientific Name | Veronicastrum virginicum |
| Common Name(s) | Culver’s Root |
| Native Range, USDA Zone | Central and Eastern North America, USDA hardiness zones 3-8 |
| Bloom Time | June-August |
| Bloom Duration, Color | 4 weeks, white |
| Height | 2-5′ tall |
| Spacing / Spread | 2-4′ |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun or Part-Sun |
| Soil Types | Sandy-loam to clay loam |
| Moisture | Medium-moisture |
| Fauna Associations / Larval Hosts | Bees, butterflies, pollinating flies / hosts Culver’s Root Boer Moth |
What are the Benefits of Culver’s Root
Showy
The numerous spikes of white flowers are quite showy. They can make for a dramatic accent when planted as a specimen, or when planted in clusters.
Long bloom time
Culver’s Root generally blooms for four+ weeks in the Summer. Plants with very tall spikes can even bloom longer as the blooms open from bottom to top along the stalk.
Tough, but beautiful foliage
The dark green foliage generally looks great all season, and diseases generally don’t bother it. The only weakness it has is during drought the lower leaves may turn yellow- but if you provide supplemental water you can avoid this condition.
Deer resistant
Deer and rabbits don’t seem to bother Culver’s Root. I have never seen any damage on any of my plants.
Pollinator favorite
Bees really go for the flowers. It is a very busy place at my house. Most likely because each plant puts out multiple spikes, it makes the foraging for bees very efficient.
Identification and Characteristics
Stalk
The central stalk will be round and smooth and grow 2-5′ high[3]. There were generally be no branches on the stalk except near the branches.
Leaf
Along the stalk, whorled leaves occur in groups of 3-7. Individual ovate shaped leaves 6″ long by 1-1/2″ wide with serrated margins[3]. Now, these leaves do make it easy to identify Culver’s Root before it blooms. Whorled leaves are not too common, although another native, Joe-Pye-Weed share this characteristic. However, the stalks of Joe Pye Weed tend to be a bit larger diameter.
Flower
Near the top of the stalk will be spikes of flowers, all pointing upwards that are 2-8″ long. These spikes are covered in narrow tubular flowers. Individual flowers are approximately 1/4″ long and 1/16″ diameter with two brown stamen[3].
The central stalk will bloom first from bottom to top, followed by the lateral stalks which give a much prolonged show of flowers. Typically a mature Culver’s root will bloom for 4 weeks[4].
How to save seed
You can save seed from Culver’s Root. Roughly 6 weeks after blooming, small hard fruit/capsules will form. When the capsules turn a dark yellow, you can remove them from the stalk. If allowed to turn brown, the capsules may open and release the tiny seeds. Store them in a breathable container (paper bag) in a cool dark place until the capsules turn brown.
Each capsule will contain many tiny seeds. You will need to pop or crush these to release the seed, similar to how you save seed from Penstemon. Or, you can just wait for the capsules to mature and open in the bag. You may need to shake the stalk to further release the seed. If dry, store the seed in a sealed container in the fridge until you are ready to winter sow.
Root
The root system of Culver’s root is a taproot and sometimes having rhizomes. A note on this – I have had plants for two full growing seasons in the ground, and I have not seen any vegetative reproduction from rhizomes yet.
Growing Conditions
Sunlight Requirements
For sunlight, Culver’s Root will prefer full sun or part sun. This is naturally a prairie plant, and the more sun it receives, the taller and showier it will be.
Soil Requirements
For soil, it can grow in sandy loam to clay loam. It is highly adaptable to a variety of locations.
Moisture Requirements
For moisture, Culver’s Root prefers medium-moist to moist conditions. It is somewhat drought tolerant, but it’s leaves may turn yellow or brown in times of drought – similar to New England Aster or Goldenrod.
Maintenance
It is possible for Culver’s Root to lean or flop in uneven light or isolated specimens. It may require steaking in rich soils.
Fertilizer
Culver’s Root should not require any supplemental fertilizer.
Growing Culver’s Root from Seed
There are differing opinions on germination protocol for Culver’s root, particularly in regards to if it needs stratification. Some seed suppliers state that it needs no stratification, while other references state six weeks to 90 days[2][6]. Based on these differing opinions, I would strongly recommend you cold stratify in the refrigerator or winter sow the seed. Personally, I’ve always wintersown. One thing they all agree on, and something that is generally true for very tiny seeds like that of Culver’s Root, is that it must be surface sown to have exposure to sunlight to break dormancy.
Just note that surface sown seeds need to have good contact with the soil, and it can be challenging to keep them and the soil moist once the heat of summer sets in. So, to help out with that, I strongly recommend you keep the seed-sown containers on the East side of a structure, and then just mist the pots in the morning (if needed). Doing so will help keep the soil sheltered from the hot afternoon sun which reduces the chances of the seed drying out.
I feel I should relay my own experience germinating Culver’s Root. I tried growing this plant from seed three years in a row. I followed identical processes each year, and bought new seed each year from the same company. The first two years I had zero germination. The third year though, I had a very high germination rate.
So, if I followed the same process, using new seed from the same company three years in a row – why did I get zero germination the first two years? Well, I can offer suspicions, but no definitive answers. My suspicion is that this seed may need to be stored in the fridge, or needs to be pretty fresh to germinate. The company I bought the seed from is one of the most reputable in the industry, but if there are some storage requirements, or freshness requirements they weren’t aware of – that could be the reason. This is my speculation, but it is not without reason. I’ve had similar experience in trying to sow Ironweed and Joe Pye Weed – and my assessment is that freshness and storing the seed in a sealed container in the fridge helps raise the germination rate. So, this is all my experience – not published research. So, take it for what it is worth and I hope it helps you.
Other methods of propagating Culver’s Root
In addition to seed, Culver’s Root can be divided every three to five years. Division is the most effective way to propagate the plant after seed. Dig up the root clump when dormant, or in very early Spring once shoots begin to show. Cut the root into sections, ensuring that each section either has a bud (fall division) or some new growth (spring division). Replant the sections about 12-18″ from the mother plant, to the same depth as the overall clump[7].
Also, if you have a particular plant you are fond of, you can take cuttings to further propagate it in Spring[4]. If you see new basal shoots, you can also cut and replant those in early Spring. Personally I don’t like doing cuttings, as it takes several years to flower and can be fraught with risk to the plant. But, take a 6″ stem with at least one leaf junction and bury it 3″ deep in sand[7]. Keep it in the shade for the growing season, and maintain moisture – planting out to final location in Fall. Just make sure you place them 18″ away from the mother plant.
Wildlife, Pests, and Diseases associated with Culver’s Root
Pollinators
When it comes to pollinators Culver’s Root primarily attracts bees. Charles Robertson documented 43 different species pollinating Culver’s Root from June into August[8]. A wide variety of long and short tongued bees will visit to feed on pollen or nectar. Other visitors include various butterflies, moths, wasps, and pollinating flies[5]. For butterflies, the Eastern Tailed Blue, Azure, and Red Admiral are frequently seen visiting.
Deer and Rabbits
The foliage of Culver’s root is resistant to both deer and rabbits. I have never noticed any damage to any of my plants, and they are located in the back of my yard, near the woods in a very vulnerable spot.
Disease
Culver’s Root is not bothered by disease. However, in times of drought the lower leaves may turn yellow and fall off. This is a natural response and not dangerous, although giving the plant some supplemental water would be a good idea. It’s sort of a nice way for the plant to remind you to water it!
Where you can buy Culver’s Root
Culver’s Root is not typically sold in nurseries, as it isn’t a typical ‘garden friendly’ plant. But it can be purchased at specialty nurseries that deal in Native Plants. You can find native plant nurseries near you on our interactive map.
Varieties of Culver’s Root
There are many different cultivars of Culver’s Root available.
- ‘Alba’ is a variety with extraordinary bright white flowers[4].
- ‘Lavendelturm’ is popular with shades of purple. A special note on this one is that it has been shown to be more attractive to pollinators than the straight native species[9], which is a rare achievement for any cultivar.
Where to buy seeds
We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. (We may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links, at no cost to you. This helps support our website.)
Uses of Culver’s Root
Garden Uses
In formal flower beds Culver’s Root can be used as a tall vertical accent. The foliage is attractive all season, and it’s white flowers can look great with nearly any color, thus it is a very versatile plant in the garden. Also, it can be used as a component in a micro-prairie or meadow.
Companion Plants
For companion plants, Culver’s root is versatile in that it looks good with just about anything. Give it some space, and it can pair nicely with Phlox and Echinacea for a white-pink display, or any number of Liatris species for a purple-white contrast as the blooming times overlap substantially. A list of companion plants for Culver’s Root is below:
- Aster, New England
- Aster, Smooth Blue
- Bellflower
- Blue Vervain
- Cardinal Flower
- Echinacea purpurea
- Ironweed
- Joe Pye Weed
- Liatris Spicata
- Liatris, Prairie Blazing Star
- Liatris, Meadow Blazing Star
- Rudbeckia fulgida, Perennial Black Eyed Susan
- Rudbeckia subtemosa, Sweet Black Eyed Susan
- Rudbeckia triloba, Brown Eyed Susan
- White Turtlehead
Medicinal Uses
The roots of Culver’s Root contain a compound known as leptandrin, which is a potent cathartic and emetic. So, it has been used as a way to purge oneself by vomiting or via the bowels[7][10]. There were additional uses for respiratory problems such as Pleurisy, or Malaria. But one must be cautious with any herbal remedy, as too much Culver’s Root can be toxic[3]. Just about all references point to the root as the primary part used in herbal medicines.
Native Americans also made use of Culver’s Root. There are nearly 40 documented uses by 9 tribes[3][11]. Some uses include the following:
- Using as a purgative
- Pain relief and backaches
- To treat fevers and flu
- As an aid to the liver
- Cough medicine
- Heart Medicine
- Pulmonary aid
- Used to treat hysteria
Final Thoughts
Culver’s Root is an attractive flower that looks great just about wherever it is planted, attracts numerous pollinators, and is generally trouble and maintenance free. The foliage looks good from Spring to Fall, and isn’t bothered by deer or rabbits. So, this is a plant that more people should grow for those reasons alone, notwithstanding the ecological benefits for the pollinators and hosting caterpillars.
Find more native plants here
References:
[1] – Veronicastrum virginicum. USDA NRCS. Accessed 20JUL2024.
[2] – Belt, S. 2011. Plant fact sheet for Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD 20705
[3] – Kindscher, Kelly, Medicinal wild plants of the prairie : an ethnobotanical guide. Lawrence : University Press of Kansas, 1992, pp343.
[4] – Cox, Jeff, Perennial all-stars : the 150 best perennials for great-looking, trouble-free gardens. Emmaus, Pa. : Rodale Press ; [New York] : Distributed in the Book trade by St. Martin’s Press, 1998, pp345.
[5] – Holm, Heather. Pollinators of native plants : attract, observe and identify pollinators and beneficial insects with native plants. Minnetonka, MN : Pollination Press LLC, 2014, pp324.
[6] – June Flanagan, Native Plants for Prairie Gardens, Fifth House Books, 2005, pp202
[7] – Art, Henry Warren, A garden of wildflowers : 101 native species and how to grow them. Pownal, Vt. : Storey Communications, 1986, pp290
[8] – Robertson, Charles. “Flowers and insects; lists of visitors of four hundred and fifty-three flowers.” (1928).
[9] – – White, Annie S. From nursery to nature: evaluating native herbaceous flowering plants versus native cultivars for pollinator habitat restoration. The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, 2016.
[10] – Christopher, John R. School of natural healing, BiWorld Publishers. 1976, pp680.
[11] – Veronicastrum virginicum, North American Ethnobotany Database. Accessed 25JUL2024.
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