CulversRoot (Veronicastrum virginicum) organically grown flower seeds. Floral Encounters.
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Item # Packet size Nett Weight Number Seeds(approx) Price Qty
Small 0.03 g 1000 seeds $2.20
Medium 0.06 g 2000 seeds $3.90
Large 0.15 g 5000 seeds $6.60

Please note: all seeds are sold by weight and seed count is approximate.

To keep seed prices low much of our seed is semi cleaned. More Info

A truly lovely native perennial. Growing up to 6 feet in height it makes an excellent back border plant or for meadown like areas. Needs full sun, but once established takes little care, except cutting down the stalks once a year. Lovely white flowers will bloom from early summer sometimes until fall. Easy to establish and does not appear to be eaten by deer or rabbits. Butterflies and bees love it as do many beneficial insects.

Description
A lovely native perennial plant that grows up to 6 feet in height. Dying back in winter it puts out fairly slender unbranched stems with clusters of 3 to 7 spear shaped leaves that circle the stem in a whorl. Each leaf is up to 8 inches long and 1½ inches wide with sharp, fine teeth, tapering to a point at both ends. In early summer the branch ends divide and produce a branched candlearbor-like structure of flower spikes from 3 to eight inches in length. Individual flowers are tiny, about ¼ inch long, white, pinkish or sometimes blue and bloom from the bottom of the spike to the top. Plant can flower profusely and often continues to flower until frost. Will flower from seed in the first year but takes many years to reach full height. The root system consists of a central taproot and some rhizomes, which enable vegetative reproduction.

Location and Care.
Hardy to zone 3. Prefers full sunshine but can tolerate some shade. If shade is too dense staking will be necessary to hold the plant upright. Likes a rich loamy soil best but most soils are tolerated as long as some organic material has been dug into them. Will grow best with good organic matter and may not reach its full height on other soils. Does not like the soil to dry out too much but cannot tolerate waterlogged soils. Needs watering through the season as cannot easily tolerate drought. Leaves will turn crispy.
Since plant has tap root it prefers not to be moved. Can take several years to establish themselves well in a garden and reach full height, but will flower from seed in the first year. Each year the plant gets bigger and taller. Plants will increase in size using rhizomes but digging them up and moving them will cause them to stunt and take several years to re-establish. Mature plants can be over four feet in diameter. Care should be taken when digging due to taproot. Often such plants cannot tolerate being moved.
Use a well balanced fertilizer 3-4 times per year especially when plants are establishing themselves. Water weekly if insufficient rain.
Plant stems can be left until spring to give winter interest to the garden and provide shelter for beneficial insects.

Growing.
Seeds are very small so although they can be sown directly in the garden their small size makes it hard to keep weeds away while germination takes place. Sowing inside where more control is possible is recommended.
If sowing outdoors wait until all danger of frost has passed and broadcast on the soil surface, as seeds are so small they can fall into cracks between the soil grains.
Culvert root seeds do best if pretreated with 2 to 3 months of cold stratification. All our seeds have been cold stratified before sale. Sow in seed trays or plug tray cells for best results. Keep moist until seeds germinate. See small seeds under our general growing instructions.
Germination can be slow and erratic. Some may germinate quickly other may take up to two months before they germinate. Patience is needed. The small seeds take quite a while to reach a size large enough to handle. Pot on into larger pots but do not set outside until they are large enough to establish themselves. Ensure that seedlings are well hardened before planting outside and water in well once planted. Best planted out before rain.

Medicinal Uses
Long used by native Americans as a herbal medicine the roots of this plant are used as a laxative. It also stimulates the liver and bile with no irritation to the bowls. It works well as a intestinal and liver tonic. It is useful for hemorrhoids and many other ailments.

Other names
Beaumont Root, Black Root, Bowman's Root, Brinton Root, Culver's Physic, Culver's Root, Hini, Leptandra, Oxadoddy, Purple Leptandra, Tall Speedwell, Tall Veronica, Whorlywort

 
Item # Packet size Nett Weight Number Seeds(approx) Price Qty
Small 0.03 g 1000 seeds $2.20
Medium 0.06 g 2000 seeds $3.90
Large 0.15 g 5000 seeds $6.60

Please note: all seeds are sold by weight and seed count is approximate.

To keep seed prices low much of our seed is semi cleaned. More Info