Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum is found growing in wetlands and wet prairies.
The individual flowers are comprised of four fused petals up to a half an inch long. A main spike at the top of the plant is surrounded by several other spikes of flowers. The flowers bloom from the bottom of the spike up. Culver's Root is not bothered much by leaf-chewing insects or mammalian herbivores. The seeds are too tiny to be of much interest to birds. However, many varieties of insects visit the flowers to collect pollen or drink nectar.
(above left) Culver's Root just before it blooms.
(above right) A Black Wasp drinks nectar from the flowers while hunting for prey items; their bodies are covered in fine hairs that also collect pollen.
(below) A Bumble Bee with bulging pollen pockets stops for just a few more from this blooming Culvers Root.
