Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Perennial Culver's Root By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on September 20, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Culver’s Root Overview Description Also known as Bowman's root, Culver's root is a tall, stately plant that bears long spikes of densely clustered flowers for several weeks in midsummer. The white, lavender, or blue blossoms are surrounded by dark-green lance-shape leaves whorled around the stem. This native plant of North America attracts butterflies and is especially popular with sweat bees, small carpenter bees, bumble bees, and honey bees. Culver's root is a frequent member of prairie plant populations. Genus Name Veronicastrum virginicum Common Name Culver’s Root Plant Type Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 2 to 4 feet Flower Color Blue, Pink, White Season Features Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division, Seed Native Prairie Plants Culver's root boasts a bold, upright form that adds height, structure, and texture to cottage garden designs, casual perennial borders, and native plant gardens. Create a pocket prairie—an oasis for native birds and insects—using Culver's root and other colorful native plants like purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), bee balm (Monarda bradburiana), Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), and goldenrod (Solidago speciosa). Add easy ornamental grasses that are native to your area, and your pocket prairie is ready to welcome visitors. Create a prairie garden using this plan. How to Care For Culver's Root Culver's root grows best in full sun and medium to wet, well-drained, humus-rich soil. It tolerates light shade, but too much shade may cause the plant to develop a weak central stem and fall over midseason. Plant Culver's root along streambeds and ravines or in low spots where soil stays moist for long periods of time. Regular watering and a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch will help Culver's root grow well in average soil. After plants bloom in midsummer, snip off the spent flowers to encourage the development of new flower spikes. Stake these perennial plants in early summer, if necessary. Culver's root can be divided in early spring. Count on plants to take 3 to 5 years to get established after division. Learn how to divide perennials here. More Varieties of Culver's Root Plant Culver's Root With: Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit