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Veronicastrum virginicum is a unique representative of the world of flora. This unpretentious perennial crop is appreciated by modern landscape designers for its easy care and very harmonious appearance.
The beautiful lancet inflorescences of veronicastrum exude a pleasant honey aroma that attracts insects
Description of veronicastrum
The veronicastrum plant belongs to the Norichnikov family. In the natural environment, the culture lives in North America and Eurasia. The perennial bush looks massive, like a column, and does not require support or tying up. Characterized by the following features:
- the root system is powerful, woody;
- stems are straight, heavily leafy from bottom to top;
- arrangement of leaves “floor by floor”, 5-7 pieces each;
- leaves are smooth, lanceolate, with a pointed end;
- leaf color is bright green;
- spike-shaped inflorescences located at the top of the stems, with small flowers;
- inflorescence length up to 20 cm;
- color of inflorescences - various shades of white, pink, red, lilac, violet, blue, indigo;
- fruits are brown boxes with small, black, oblong seeds.
Wild veronicastrum varieties produce flowering inflorescences over 2 meters
Types and varieties of veronicastrum
There are two main types of perennial veronicastrum:
- Siberian (Veronicastrum sibirica) is a species whose homeland is considered to be the vast territory of Russia. A powerful frost-resistant plant that can tolerate temperatures down to -30 ⁰C. Siberian veronicastrum is characterized by a powerful root system, erect stems up to 2 m high, inflorescences up to 30 cm in size with pale blue flowers. A very beautiful low-growing variety of Siberian veronicastrum, Red Arrows, with crimson inflorescences. The height of the bushes is up to 80 cm, the color of the leaves is green, the color of the shoots is purple.
Under natural conditions, Siberian veronicastrum forms dense thickets
- Virgin (Veronicastrum virginicum), is frost-resistant, tolerates sub-zero temperatures down to -28 ⁰C. The height of the stems is up to 1.5 m, the color of the leaves is dark green.
The color of the inflorescences of the Virginia species depends on the variety
The most popular varieties of Virginia veronicastrum
The variety of varieties of Virginia veronicastrum makes it possible to use the plant to design various stylistic directions of landscape design:
- The Templetation variety is characterized by columnar inflorescences with lilac or light blue buds and light green foliage.
The height of the veronicastrum bush of the Virginia variety Templetation is up to 1.3 m
- Veronicastrum Erika has pink inflorescences. The color of the petals located at the top of the spike-shaped inflorescences is darker and more saturated than the color of the lower petals.
The height of the veronicastrum bush of the Erica variety is 1.2 m
- The Veronicastrum virginiana variety Fascination is distinguished by its pink-lilac inflorescences. The foliage has a bluish color. On one shoot of Veronicastrum Fascineishion, together with the central spike-shaped inflorescence, several dozen lateral spikelet inflorescences are formed.
The height of the Veronicastrum virginiana Fascineishion bushes is 1.3 m
- The Virginia veronicastrum variety Album is distinguished by powerful stems with thick, dark green leaves, as well as white inflorescences.
Veronicastrum Virginian variety Album is characterized by a bush height of up to 1.3 m
- The virgin veronicastrum variety Apollo (Apollo) is distinguished by the green tone of the foliage and the rich lilac hue of its lush inflorescences.
Veronicastrum virginiana variety Apollo is characterized by a bush height of up to 1 m
- The Virginia veronicastrum variety Cupid is distinguished by its lush green lance-shaped foliage and magnificent lavender-purple color of paniculate inflorescences up to 15 cm in size.
Virginia veronicastrum variety Cupid is characterized by a bush height of up to 0.9 m
- The Virginia Veronicastrum variety Lavendelturm compares favorably with other crops with its light purple tint of panicle inflorescences and lanceolate green leaves.
The height of the bushes of the Virginia veronicastrum variety Lavendelturm is up to 1.5 m
- The Veronicastrum virginiana variety Adoration is characterized by the soft lilac color of its spreading spike-shaped inflorescences.The Adorasion variety is one of the most spectacular during flowering: first the central inflorescence blooms, after the flowers on the side panicles open, the flower “cloud” increases several times, attracting bees and other insects with its honey aroma.
The height of the bushes of the Virginia Veronicastrum variety Adoreation is up to 1.4 m
- Veronicastrum virginiana Pink Glow is a real giant. The variety is characterized by white (with a faint pale pink tint) color of inflorescences. The leaves of the Pink Glow variety are lanceolate, bright green, and whorled.
The height of veronicastrum bushes of the Pink Glow variety reaches 1.5 m
- Veronicastrum Roseum is characterized by the pink color of paniculate inflorescences, the classic lanceolate shape of green leaves, and powerful stems.
The height of veronicastrum bushes of the Virginia variety Roseum is 1.2-1.5 m
Veronicastrum in landscape design
Among landscape designers, culture is very popular not only because of its global size. The columnar figure of veronicastrum can successfully exist in single plantings and combines perfectly with other plants in flower beds, mixborders, and beds. Tall bushes of Virginia veronicastrum are used for various purposes:
- for zoning the territory;
- as a green hedge;
- to disguise outbuildings and other unattractive architectural forms;
- to create natural tall thickets;
- for creating natural borders;
- for the design of reservoirs;
- for decorating the background (back) of the flower garden;
- for the most harmonious and contrasting combination with brightly flowering plants (echinacea, phlox, astilbe, climbing roses, lupine, delphinium) and large grains.
Group plantings of decorative veronicastrum varieties (5-6 bushes each) look beautiful
Reproduction methods
Veronicastrum reproduces in two main ways:
- seed;
- vegetative (cuttings, dividing the bush).
Seeds are pre-sown for seedlings and then moved to open ground.
Vegetative propagation is carried out in early spring or late autumn.
The cuttings are cut and rooted in prepared soil (loose, fertilized with organic fertilizers). The cuttings can first be placed in water until roots appear. Cuttings are carried out in early spring to ensure rooting of shoots.
Bushes grown from cuttings can be mulched in the fall to prevent the plant from freezing
The bush is divided in the fall after flowering has completed. The selected mother plant is removed from the ground and divided into parts. Individual plots should contain viable shoots. Woody roots should be separated using a shovel or ax.
Veronicastrum plots should be planted in the ground so that the roots do not become weathered or dry out.
Nuances of growing seedlings
Veronicastrum seeds are sown as seedlings in disinfected containers with prepared fertile soil mixture in February. Algorithm for sowing seeds for seedlings:
- drainage is placed at the bottom of the container;
- the soil mixture is disinfected and placed in a container;
- seeds are buried 0.5 cm into the soil;
- crops are watered;
- The container is covered with film or glass.
After the first shoots appear (10 days after sowing), the shelter is removed and moderate watering is provided.
Veronicastrum seedlings are moved into open ground in the last ten days of May.
Before planting young plants in open ground, seedlings of Veronicastrum virginiana are gradually hardened
Planting and caring for veronicastrum
Veronicastrum virginiana is an unpretentious, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant, drought-resistant plant that does not require significant care. The culture is suitable for summer residents and gardeners who have the opportunity to care for plants once a week.
Beautifully flowering veronicastrum bushes bloom all summer with virtually no regular care
Recommended timing
The optimal time for moving seedlings into open ground is the end of May, after stable warm soil and air temperatures have established.
Since Veronicastrum seeds are sown for seedlings in February, by the end of spring the bushes have time to become sufficiently strong and take root.
Ready-made seedlings purchased in specialized stores are moved into the ground throughout the growing season
Site selection and preparation
Perennial veronicastrum prefers sunny or slightly shaded areas of the local area.
Light, fertile, moisture-absorbing, slightly acidic or neutral soil, well fertilized with organic mixtures with the addition of peat, is suitable for the crop.
The plant does not “like” sandy, sandy and clayey soils.
Veronicastrum blooms poorly and develops in dense soil
What can you plant veronicastrum next to?
Veronicastrum is best placed next to the following crops:
- spectacular and tall cereals;
- multi-colored asters;
- stylish pink coneflowers;
- bright phloxes;
- solar rudbeckia;
- bright orange helenium;
- classic nevus (garden chamomile);
- juicy and colorful lupine;
- expressive delphinium.
Climbing roses can be perfectly complemented by stylish, columnar veronicastrum bushes.
Hydrangea bushes with lush blooming foam of inflorescences harmoniously coexist with giant veronicastrum candles
Landing algorithm
The seedlings are moved into the prepared holes along with a lump of earth, following a 50x60 cm pattern. Per 1 sq. m. you can place up to 5-6 veronicastrum bushes.
If plots are replanted, the size of the planting holes depends on the size of the root system. The growing point is not buried; the root system is carefully distributed and sprinkled with soil. The soil around the plant is compacted and watered.
It is recommended to mulch the planting site with pine needles, leaves, sawdust, and dry grass
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Virginia veronicastrum prefers moderate watering - once a week. During hot periods, plants should be watered as the soil dries out. To ensure longer moisture retention, the soil around the bushes is mulched.
Perennial bushes require periodic feeding, 2-3 times during the growing season. Plants are fed with organic fertilizers, avoiding fertilizers that include large amounts of nitrogen.
Nitrogen in complex fertilizers promotes foliage growth at the expense of flowering
Trimming
Experienced gardeners recommend removing faded central shoots with peduncles. This stimulates the flowering of side shoots, which significantly prolongs the overall budding period.
Preparing for winter
After the first frost, the shoots and leaves of veronicastrum turn black. In autumn, after flowering ends, cut off foliage and shoots at ground level. The soil is mulched with leaves, grass, hay or sawdust.
Pests and diseases
Virginia veronicastrum is a unique plant that is almost never attacked by pests.
In rare cases, the culture is affected by the following ailments:
- The cause of the appearance of white, brown, black or brown spots on the foliage (spotting) is caused by fungal, viral or bacterial diseases.
To treat leaf spot, modern preparations containing copper (copper sulfate, Barrier) are used.
- Powdery mildew, or powdery mildew, is characterized by the presence of white spots that grow over the entire surface of the leaves.
Preparations Vectra and Topaz are the most relevant for treating plants affected by powdery mildew
Conclusion
Veronicastrum virginiana is an attractive and stylish modern garden plant. A variety of decorative varieties allow you to decorate your home area with minimal labor costs. Elegant bushes are beautiful at any time of the year. In spring, red-burgundy shoots combine harmoniously with bulbous primroses. Throughout the summer and until late autumn, giant paniculate inflorescences delight the eye with the blooming of white, blue, lilac, pink, violet, and blue flowers.
