Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
Veronicastrum
'Challenger'
Culver's root
Set your sights high and achieve your garden goals with pale pink Veronicastrum 'Challenger'! Whilst it’s challenging to find a plant as unique and impressive as this, it’s certainly not a challenge to grow it. This hardy perennial as such a dream—it’s fully hardy, perennial, strong, uniform and prolific. This means that by including the pretty Veronicastrum 'Challenger', you can create an almost effortlessly gorgeous planting scheme which features incredible blooms at lofty heights, soothing movement, beautiful colour and interesting structure. Also, if you’re keen to help the bees, be assured that they will love this plant as much as you will.
Give Veronicastrum virginicum 'Challenger' (commonly known as Culver’s root) a space in a sunny border and allow it to establish there. Over the years, this clump-forming perennial will gradually increase in size and produce more stems. The flowers of Veronicastrum 'Challenger' are particularly eye catching, with multiple upright prongs which splay out from the base of the main flower spike. This creates a denser display of colour which is eye catching from afar as well as fascinating to admire up close.
Quantity
Plant profile
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Veronicastrum virginicum 'Challenger'ᴾᴮᴿ
- Flower colour
- Pale pink
- Established height
- 1.2-1.5m
- Established spread
- 70cm-1m
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 5 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Free draining
Damp - Soil type
-
Loam
Clay
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Cut flower gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Good for cutting
Pollinator-friendly
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
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