North Shore Plant Club
Challenger Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum 'Challenger')
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| Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clumping in the Plantaginaceae Family | |
Challenger Culver's Root showcases soft pink tubular blooms densely arranged on elegant narrow spires, creating a stunning vertical accent in the garden. |
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'Challenger' is a compact Culver's Root selection bred by renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf, chosen for its shorter stature and tidy habit compared to the species. Soft pink flowers open from tightly packed green buds on narrow, upright spires, blooming from midsummer into early fall. At roughly 3.5 to 4 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, it is noticeably more compact than the 4- to 6-foot species, making it a good fit for smaller borders. Like other Culver's Root selections, it performs best in full sun to partial shade with evenly moist, fertile soil, and is valued by pollinators. |
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Pros
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Cons
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Plant Data | |
| Mature Size | 4 - 4 feet tall. 18 - 24 inches wide. |
| Sun Exposure | Partial Shade - Full Sun |
| Moisture Tolerance | Medium |
| Zones | 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F) |
| Tags | Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall interest, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Nativar, Nativar, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Perennial, Pond, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Well-Drained Soil |
| Bloom Period | July - August |
| Flower Color | Soft Pink |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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Past Availability2025 : 06/29 - 09/20 |
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!