Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Lavendelturm’

Culver’s Root Plantaginaceae

A magnificent North American prairie plant with German precision. ‘Lavendelturm’ forms a strong, upright clump of dark green, whorled leaves, sending its stiff stems to around 1.5–2 m and carrying wonderfully airy, branching candelabra-like heads of pale lavender-blue flowers. The tiny flowers open progressively along the spikes, with long stamens giving the whole plant a soft, almost hazy appearance. Bees and butterflies find it particularly attractive. 

The species V. virginicum, Culver’s Root, is native to eastern and central North America, occurring in moist prairies, meadows, open woodland and woodland margins. It is therefore exceptionally well suited to the modern prairie style of planting: tall enough to provide vertical punctuation, but sufficiently transparent to allow grasses and lower perennials to weave through it. In a prairie border, use it amongst Panicum, Sporobolus, Schizachyrium and Deschampsia, or with Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Monarda and Sanguisorba. Its rigid spires provide the punctuation; the grasses provide the movement — rather like having both the architecture and the upholstery. 

Selected by the celebrated German plantsman Ernst Pagels in 1998, ‘Lavendelturm’ was introduced as a particularly strong and floriferous form. The German name means “Lavender Tower”, while ‘Lavender Towers’ is sometimes encountered as an English rendering. It is a long-lived, clump-forming perennial rather than an invasive spreader, and performs best in full sun with fertile, moisture-retentive soil. 

• Height: 1.5–2 m
• Hardiness: H7 — below -20°C
• Spread: 45–60 cm
• Flowers: July–September
• Flower colour: Pale lavender-blue
• Origin of species: Eastern and central North America
• Selected: Ernst Pagels, Germany, 1998
• Use: Prairie planting, naturalistic planting, herbaceous borders
• Soil: Moist, fertile and well draine