Grow Native! Plant Indentification

Culver's root

Name: Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Distinguishing Characteristics: Juvenile leaves opposite, lacking stalks, with short hairs on both surfaces, margins toothed; older leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, up to 6 inches long and 1 inch wide, with toothed margins
Height: To 6 feet
Blooms: June-September
Description: The flowers on this tall, erect plant are on terminal spikes that rise from a common axis?the center spike is larger. Individual flowers are minute and tightly spaced. They are white and rarely pink.
Comments: Occasionally found in prairie swales, savannas and wet grasslands throughout Missouri, it is rarely used in seeding mixes because seed is difficult to collect in large quantities. The showy spikes have numerous flowers that are a good nectar source for insects

Culver's root Details (Click on the photo to see a larger image)
Seeds (scale is in 1/16 inch increments)	Seedling	Juvenile	Distinguishing Characteristic	Mature Plant

Photographs by Don Kurz