Plant · GBIF taxon 3172206
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicumAlso known as Culver's Physic, Black Root, Bowman's Root
Culver's root produces striking, candelabra-like spikes of tiny white to pale lavender blossoms that rise above whorled, lance-shaped leaves throughout mid to late summer. Found in moist prairies, meadows, and open woodland edges, this sturdy native perennial serves as an essential nectar source for long-tongued bees, butterflies, and syrphid flies. Its dramatic vertical architecture and rich floral displays make it an ecological anchor in native grassland communities.
Native PlantFloweringPollinator Magnet
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Moist Soil
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- White-Tailed Deer
- Rabbits
- Culver's Root Borer Moth Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat loss, prairie suppression, land development
HabitatsTallgrass prairies, wet meadows, open woods, riverbanks
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyPlantaginaceae
- GenusVeronicastrum
- SpeciesVeronicastrum virginicum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for distinctive whorls of 3 to 7 finely serrated, lanceolate leaves along the central stem.
- Pollinator Watching: Visit mid-summer blooms on bright days to spot native bees and butterflies gathering nectar.
- Cultivation: Plant in full sun to partial shade with rich, consistently moist soil to support heavy summer blooming.
Frequent Companion (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · cc-by
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by Dale Knox · cc0
Pollinator (c) crseaquist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by crseaquist · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Barry Walter, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Barry Walter · cc-by
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