Veronicastrum sibiricum

This East Asian cousin of culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is similarly (and strikingly) architectural but in a floral color that our native lacks: lavender-blue.  The flowers occur in frothy steeples in late summer, on tall stems handsomely furnished with whorled, lance-shaped leaves.

Sun; moist to average soil; 4'x3'; late summer; Zone 3

Propagated from seed; deep 3.5-inch pots

Photo: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev