Arlene Wright-Correll

How to Grow Culver’s Root ©



Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

When you want a perennial with lovely, clean, straight lines then consider this relative of the snapdragon, Culver's root. The Latin name of this plant is Veronicastrum virginicum.

This perennial is often referenced as an herb. However, I feel it really is a great addition to any wildflower garden.

This plant, during July and August, will grace your garden with lovely white flower stalks and whorls of deeply green leaves. Culver's Root will grow from three to six feet tall and you might want to consider it whenever you create a " Moon Garden " or a " White Garden ", even though it will create quite a vertical statement when you plant it among other perennials.

This perennial grows best when planted one inch apart in full sun to shade and likes medium to moist rich soil. It is hardy to zone 4 and makes an excellent cut flower.

Looking slightly like candelabra the flowers will be in clusters about eight inches in length crowding around each spike and they bloom from the bottom up. Though they have no scent they are very lovely.

This perennial has a central taproot with some rhizomes which allows it to have vegetative reproduction. The wind will carry its tiny seeds several feet from the mother plant thus enabling it to reproduce again.

Its dark green leaves are about eight inches long and about one and half inches wide. This perennial will attract short-tongue and long-tongue bees as they like to collect the Culver's root pollen and suck its nectar. The seeds of this perennial are too tiny to attract birds but it will attract honeybees, Mason bees, bumblebees and others. It also attracts butterflies.

Years ago Culver's root was used for all kinds of ailments such as liver or gallbladder disorders, as a liver tonic, to promote bile flow and was probably among the traveling salesman or medicine men's inventory. Culver's root was named for American physician, Dr. Coulvert, of the late 17 th and early 18 th century

In New York and Massachusetts this plant is considered an threatened species and in Vermont it is classified as an endangered species.

This perennial is considered a wild flower that you can cultivate in your area provided you give it the start it needs. It is a great addition to any wildflower garden and will create stunning effects when grouped with Purple cornflowers, Rigid Golden Rod, and Black Eyed Susan.

Once can buy these tiny seeds and even potted plants from many nurseries on the internet.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

This Article has been viewed 215 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.