Veronicastrum Red Arrows
Plant profile for Veronicastrum Red Arrows
The flowers of Veronicastrum Sibericum Red Arrows are not the colour which you may well expect them to be.
Performance in our garden
This is the second season that this Veronicastrum has been in the main border of the back garden.
Three plants positioned around the Standard Holly shrub, give an architectural look. Quite pleasing to the eye and they have also thickened out since last year.
The pictures above were taken in early June. See how the bronze, cup like foliage seem to be preparing for the candle like blooms to appear.
Can you see the reason for naming this one (Red Arrows)? I suppose the stems and young foliage very loosely come under the spectrum.
The pale purple blooms were fully developed by June 18th. Each stem carries a single flower spike
The very last picture below was taken in mid July last year. See how multiple, smaller flower spikes take over from the single one.
I am very pleased with the performance of this perennial in the main border of our Cheshire back garden. It appears to be pretty much trouble free and I am sure it would also do well in Aberdeen. Probably blooming a couple of weeks later.
Plant description
Veronicastrum Sibericum Red arrows is a fully hardy perennial which blooms between late June and early August.
Several rosettes of tiered mid green/bronze leaves are carried along the four foot stems. The final rosette at the top carries the flower spike. Once faded, cut it back and allow the multiple shorter flowers to take over
Red Arrows is one of those perennials which are slower than many to develop. You will still get flowers in the first season, however division will not be required for a good few years.
Quick check details
Height *** 120cm/4ft
Hardiness *** fully hardy perennial
Flowers *** pale purple spikes, late June/July possibly going into August
Position *** full sun/partial? shade
Soil *** any reasonable garden soil enriched with compost when planting
_____________
Our Cheshire garden in June
Now in its third season since creating our back garden, rapid growth of perennials astound me.
Here we have the front garden which is a mix of, shrubs,perennials and annuals.
In my next post I will finally be in a position to show my major project which has taken place out front. Well, its pretty major for an old timer like me.
Hi Diana, will unveil on my next post.
Hi Deb, the veronicastrum virginicum in our garden doesn’t require support, however this one Sibericum does. Canes are discretely placed.
Hi Helene, we are already feeling that we have made a mistake with the big central border in our back garden. Its simply too over powering, mainly due to the height of the plants. Working out a plan at the moment.
What a lovely plant you are presenting this time Alistair, I have not seen this one before but it would look lovely in a garden with enough space for a drift of it. Also pleased to see how mature your garden look, after a relatively short time since you started on it. I am 2 years behind you and I still have lots of plants from my previous garden yet to get in the ground, but I have a loose vision of what it should look like when all the plants are planted – eventually!
Veronicastrum is a striking plant. I don’t see any stakes. Does it stay upright without assistance. I love the flowers, as well as the foliage. And your entire garden is amazing! i look forward to seeing your project.
I grow Leonotis for the tiered leaves, and Elegia capensis. Such a different look to most plants.
Still waiting patiently for your surprise …
Hi Carolyn, thanks for bringing it to my attention that you picked up on this Veronicastrum as being from Siberia by reading my comments. I mentioned this half way through my post, but have now also added the information near the top also. Thanks again.
I grow V. virginicum, I believe the common name is Culver’s root. It is native to the US and is a great plant. I had no idea there was a Siberian form until I read your comments.
Hi Rick, we also have the Veronicastrum virginicum alba. To be honest it is a better looking plant than Sibericum, but thats a story for another day.
Hi Alistair, your garden has come on in leaps and bounds, hard to believe the short time you have been there. Veronicastrum is not a plant I have grown which I think needs to rectified. It’s interesting that ‘Red Arrows’ is from Veronicastrum sibericum whilst the majority of cultivars have been developed from Veronicastrum virginicum, yours must be super hardy the species originating in Siberia.
Hi Annette, I will reveal all in a couple of weeks, (well, you know what I mean) I think our soil is high in nutrients, the white plant is the old fashioned annual (Allysum)
Your garden is looking amazing. I bet you have increased the house prices in your street with your front garden too. I was hoping to see your major project as we started to look at the front, but see we will have to wait. . ..
Some of your plants seem very large, e.g. antirrhinum and lobelia. Is that just the climate or do you use a fertilizer? What is the white plant between the blue lobelia in the front – I couldn’t quite see?
Things are growing well here too, hope to publish some photos soon, but a bit busy catching up after two weeks away. The weeds have had a field day!
Hello Nadzda, I only know that it is fully hardy in the UK, We dont really operatee a Zone system here.
What an interesting plant Veronicastrum, Alistair. I should plant in in my garden as well. Does it go to zone 5a?
I love your garden especially the last photo – pretty combination of white and blue!
Thanks Jane, hope business is booming.
Simply stunning!!!!