I have the white and the blue. That pink is gorgeous!

Barrheadlass, the foliage on 'Erica' is like no other, it is thick rugose and comes out is this amazing red color! Photo from the net.

Now I'm off to purchase one ! I have white veronicastrum that I like, but the 'fascination' flops quite a bit for me.

editing : not so easily found, I'll add it to the list for next year !

I will be keeping an eye out for it in the spring!

Lat62, I hope you manage to find "Erica', I believe it's rather rare in the North American nursery trade. Just a note, it looks wonderful in a grouping of three or more! I had 'Fascination', indeed was a flopper, out it went, 'Cupid is somewhat better, though still not strongly upright.

Please someone post if you find a source for 'Erica'.

Thank you for this! I too will be on the lookout.

Peren.all, I first spied 'Erica' long years ago at the now defunct Holes Greenhouse in St. Albert, Alberta. Picked up that small potted plant in hand and wondered just how different it possibly could be in comparison to others? .... well, like night and day! ... that foliage and refined narrow upright profile that does not become a massive girthy clump, as well is much easier to dig and divide, a class act perennial!

@Frozebud…I live in Massachusetts but will be looking!

Digging Dog nursery is sold out, but worth checking out in the spring !

I am trying 'Challenger' from Fieldstone, it is pink but no idea how it compares.

The foliage coming up in the spring is to die for, Frozebud !

I have had 'Fascination' for years and it looks terrible after it is done blooming (it might help if I watered the garden but drought and wells are not a great combo). I added V. virginicum to the garden 2 yrs. ago and I am very impressed with it. I look forward to getting 'Erica' if I can. The spring foliage reminds me of Eutrochium 'Baby Joe'. Love it!

Um, thanks to enablers on this very forum, I also have a couple of veronicastrum (Red Arrows)...but to say they struggle is understatement. It is a statuesque plant, not easily ignored...so I had to drag the hose out often. Would probably have preferred for them to subside discreetly (like the various phlox and defunct rudbeckias) because I can definitely state they look nothing like Frozebudd's stellar specimens.

Suzy, my northern summers of central Alberta are easier on perennials than regions with longer hotter drawn out summers ... though, last year, I was in the frying pan for months on end, this summer is pleasantly cool and moist, with only now a taste of heat setting in. I hope it's only a one off, but my rudbeckias are mildew laden, totally zapped and going down for it.

Foliage detail of 'Erica', fertile soil and moisture keeps it looking good.

V. virginicum remains a keeper, foliage beginning to ripen to its golden phase, forms a large clump that is both difficult to dig and divide, resents drought as apparently all do!

Peren.all, indeed the spring and early summer foliage of 'Erica' displays a striking resemblance to Joe Pye weed.

Porkchop, it makes one wonder how and why some selections were released onto the market for their underwhelming performance.

"Porkchop, it makes one wonder how and why some selections were released onto the market for their underwhelming performance."

That could be said about a great number of cultivars of plants of all different types. I still maintain that the tried-and-true "oldies but goodies" often out-perform newer cultivars -- but of course there's exceptions to that, too.

In any case, to be fair to the culver's root, the ones that turn to toast every year may be in too dry of a location. I say that because teh same cultivar does fine in a moister location. That's the Apollo I'm speaking of. While the white ones don't bloom all that spectacularly, at least the foliage stays tidy after blooming, and it is unusual, attractive foliage, so they have that going for them.