Culver's Root 



NANCY SURETTE 





Reprinted from Granite Trowel, 

 Autumnal Equinox Edition, 

 Master Gardener Publications 



Iwas think 

 perennial 



iking about a native 

 .perennial that can be ob- 

 tained, yet is undiscovered: 

 something for the late summer 

 and early fall. Then I recalled 

 a day's journey that I took 

 with the New England Wild- 

 flower Society several years 

 ago to Holy Hill, in Harvard, 

 Massachusetts. It was there 

 that I discovered a field of 

 Culver's root (Veronicastrum 

 virgiruciim) majestically sway- 

 in the breeze. 

 This is Shaker country and 

 the Fruitlands Museum 

 has a documented her- 

 barium done by Shaker 

 Elisha Myrick over 140 

 years ago. Culver's root 

 (also known as black 

 root. Bowman's root, 

 wild veronica) is in- 

 : eluded. There is no 

 doubt that this field 

 represents a new genera- 

 tion of plants originally 

 grown by the Shakers. 



Culver's Root is not for 

 the faint-of-heart. This native 

 from the eastern part of the 

 United States will grow from 

 three to six feet tall, and it is 

 obviously a back-of-the-border 

 plant. The terminal white 

 flowers which grow in spire- 

 like wands are faintly tinged 

 with blue. It is a long 

 bloomer, starting in June and 

 performing through to the 

 early fall. 



My favorite use for this 

 plant is in mass along the a 



woodland edge of meadow. It gives a person the 

 feeling of a waving sea of white. Culver's root 

 likes a sunny meadow or open woodland shade 

 with moderate acidity. It will even tolerate damp 

 soils. This makes it particularly attractive with 

 other giant native perennials such as Joe-Pye- 

 Weed, swamp milkweed, and New England aster. 

 In the garden, it solves the problem if you need a 

 vertical emphasis. Coreopsis, yarrows, cranesbill 

 geraniums, and daylilies go wonderfully in front of 

 it. 



Occasional division may be necessary in the 

 spring or fall. Stem cuttings are slow to root and 

 do not bloom until the third year. You may also 

 sow seeds when they are ripe. Potted stock should 

 be spaced eight to twelve inches apart, and 

 planted at soil level and mulched. Any bare stems 

 should be covered with a half-inch of soil or hu- 

 mus; new roots will develop, especially if the soil 

 is kept moist. 



This wild veronica is a good flower to use in 

 bouquets; it lasts a long while after being cut. The 

 dried flower stalks are excellent for dry floral ar- 

 rangements. 



In Massachusetts, Culver's root is on the rare 

 native plant list, classified as "a species of special 

 concern". As such, V. virginicum is protected by 

 the State Endangered Species Act. My unverified 

 suspicion is that the same is true in New Hamp- 

 shire. There is more reason than ever to help it 

 make a comeback by purchasing some plants of 

 your own. 



At least one major New Hampshire wholesale 

 grower lists Culver's root in their catalog, describ- 

 ing it as "elegant white spires and deep green 

 leaves, for specimen, back of the border. Very ver- 

 tical and erect; its stiff seed head spikes will often 

 provide winter interest." It is therefore possible to 

 obtain or order nursery-grown plants. 



The Culver's root has it all: elegance, long 

 bloom, drying qualities, no serious pests or dis- 

 eases, uniqueness, and availability through nurser- 

 ies. It might just be the new neighborhood rage. 



Nancy Surette, principal of Seedling-Naturescapes, 

 a landscape design/consulting firm in Windham, NH, 

 can be reached at 603-893-7904. 



THE PL A NTSM A N 



