This is an excellent plant for the moist or even wet margin of the pond, but it will grow equaly well in ordinary soil in the border. In autumn strong flower spikes appear, that are full with flowers in several shades of blue. In very cold region some light protection is advisable during winter.

The epithet of the botanical name is very interesting: siphilitica. The plant once was really thought to be a remedy again syphilis. The theory was that in the home of every disease there should also grow a remedy against it. So a lot of plants were tried out for cures (also campeachy wood). The cures probably killed as many people as the disease.