Veronicastrum virginicum

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Culver's root
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronicastrum
Species:
V. virginicum
Binomial name
Veronicastrum virginicum
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Leptandra virginica (L.) Nutt.
  • Veronica virginica L.

Veronicastrum virginicum, or Culver's root, is a

perennial with slender racemes of white or occasionally pink or purple flowers in summer.[3]

Names and etymology

Other names and variants include Culver's-root, Culverphysic, Culver's physic, black root. The Latin specific epithet virginicum means "of Virginia", referring to a historic definition covering the entire eastern USA and southeastern Canada,[4] (which roughly corresponds to its current distribution). The name "Culver's root" derives from a certain Dr. Culver who was a pioneer physician of the 18th century and used its bitter roots for purgative purposes.[citation needed]

Description

The stems are hairless and usually unbranched.

corollas are white and are roughly 2mm in length. These plants flower for about a month from mid-June to late August, depending on the latitude.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Veronicastrum virginicum is found from southern Maine to northwest Florida to northern Louisiana up through Minnesota and somewhat north of the Canada–US border. Culver's root is frequently found in wet to wet-mesic prairies and sometimes moist upland sites.[5] It is also found in a good number of prairie or native meadow restorations.

Cultivation

Veronicastrum virginicum is cultivated as an ornamental for temperate gardens in the Eastern and Central United States around its native range.[2] Most native plant nurseries commonly sell this easy and adaptable perennial. Even some conventional nurseries sell this plant, though it is not common yet in American landscapes and gardens. It is fully hardy down to at least −20 °C (−4 °F), and grows in full sun to part shade and any moist, well-drained soil. It is easy to dig up, divide, and reset like a good number of standard perennials if they get too large or crowded. It stays as an upright clump and does not spread far. Plants rarely need staking; however, older clumps may require this. It can be pruned down in late May or dug up, divided, and reset. This plant does do some self-sowing with its tiny seed.

In the UK the cultivars 'Album',[6] with white flowers, and 'Lavendelturm', with lilac flowers, have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]

Ecology

The larvae of the Culver's root borer moth feed on this plant.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ "Veronicastrum virginicum". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. ^ a b Clausen, Ruth Rogers; Ekstrom, Nicholas H. (1989). Perennials for American Gardens. New York: Random House.
  3. ^
    ISBN 9781405332965
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1845337315
    .
  5. ^ a b Gleason, Henry; Cronquist, Arthur (1991). Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. New York, New York: D. Van Nostrand Company.
  6. ^ "Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album'". RHS. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  7. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Veronicastrum virginicum 'Lavendelturm'". Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  8. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 106. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  9. ISBN 978-0691150420
    .

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Veronicastrum virginicum.
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