Virginia Physostegia (Physostegia virginiana), proposed by Akène
🌸 An elegant perennial prized by pollinators 🌸
Virginia creeper is a striking native perennial, prized for its tall stems adorned with delicate lavender flowers that bloom from July to October . Its deep green lanceolate foliage and late bloom make it a valuable ally for ecological gardens.
Spreading easily by rhizomes, it forms beautiful colonies in naturalist gardens and wetlands, while providing an essential resource for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds , attracted by its abundant nectar.
Characteristics of the variety
📅 Flowering : July to October
📏 Height : 100 cm
🌱 Spacing : 60 cm
☀️ Exposure : Sun, partial shade
🌿 Life cycle : Perennial
🌾 Soil type : Loamy to clayey, well drained
💧 Soil moisture content : Medium to slightly moist
🦌 Deer Resistance : High
📦 Seeds per packet : 150
Sowing and cultivation
📏 Sowing depth : 5 mm
🌱 Stratification : 60 days
🌡 Germination time : 7 to 15 days
💦 Watering : Maintain constant humidity without excess
🔹 Indoor method :
1️⃣ Mix the seeds with a moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or sand).
2️⃣ Place them in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator for 60 days cold stratification.
3️⃣ Sow 5mm deep in pots and keep the soil moist until germination.
🔹 Outdoor method :
🍂 Direct sowing in autumn : Sow directly in the garden for natural stratification, but germination may be more irregular.
🌱 Transplanting : Once the seedlings are established, transplant them into well-drained soil with good spacing to allow for natural expansion.
Ecological roles and utilities
🐝 A refuge for pollinators : Late flowering ideal for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds .
🌾 An ally for stabilizing soils : Its rhizomes help fight erosion , particularly along rivers or in wetlands.
🏡 An ornamental and easy-care perennial : Perfect for naturalistic gardens , where it creates a wild and structured effect at the same time.
Why adopt Virginia’s physostegy?
🌿 A prolonged and spectacular flowering
🐦 A magnet for hummingbirds and pollinating insects
🌎 A native plant that enriches biodiversity
🌱 An effective ground cover that structures flowerbeds
Add a floral and ecological touch to your garden with this robust and melliferous perennial!
