Of all the tall perennials for your yard, the Veronicastrum virginicum (VV) is a must-have. Perhaps one of the most all-season rich examples of native plants, the VV offers hues from purple to white and shoots up to 7 feet of awesomeness. It is commonly known as Culver’s root and is a wildflower native from southern Maine to northern Florida and as far west as Minnesota. It’s hardy with the ability to thrive in USDA zones of 3 to 8. It begins coming out of dormancy in mid to late spring providing foliage interest to your space. It blooms by early to mid-summer and will often stay in bloom for months. Then, it goes into the fall and winter with incredible seed heads colored almond and dark oak. These characteristics are super important if you are going for a four-season sustainable space. |
Culver’s root is a must-have for those of you looking to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects and birds to your yard. If you couple them with Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’ and Panicum virgatum ‘Cape Breeze’, you will only see plenty of fluttering wings abound through your yard. You will also attract teams of hungry pollinators looking to harvest their bounty. You might just find you have stumbled across a secret recipe for helping restore bee populations with beauty and nature