Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Fascination Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination').
More about veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination'
About Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' · also called Fascination Culver's root · flowering
A statuesque prairie perennial sending up tall, architectural spires tipped with tapering candelabra spikes of pale lilac-blue flowers from midsummer. Whorls of lance-shaped leaves climb the strong vertical stems, giving structure to borders and prairie plantings. A pollinator favourite, 'Fascination' is an award-winning, sun-loving Culver's root that needs reliably moist, fertile soil to thrive.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' and get the feeding right with the veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' flower?
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' bloom?
Give veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' normally bloom?
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' flowering?
Feeding veronicastrum virginicum 'fascination' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 639 bloom guides in the Growli library