Botanical/Latin
Veronica
Pronunciation
ver-ron-ni-ka
Common Name
Speedwell
Hardiness zone range
3 - 9
General Comments
Easy to grow perennials that begin
flowering in early summer and continue for a long
time through the summer until autumn. They vary in
size and type from small ground huggers to taller
clump forming ones with impressive flower
spikes.
Each delightful flower spike is
composed of dozens of densely arranged, small
florets, which open progressively from the base
upwards to form a long lasting spike. The variety
selection includes white, pink, and rose shades,
but the predominant and most highly valued color
is blue- this is the choicest color in the plant
world and in Veronicas it is present in the most
glorious and intense shades.
Uses
The attractive foliage and the
long period of flowering mean they have become
firm favorites in all sorts of situations, from
traditional beds and borders, to old fashioned
cottage gardens, and, of course, in modern style
layouts. The lower growing types are often placed
towards the front of beds and borders, along the
edges of paths, in rock gardens, on raised beds,
or on sloping banks where they form swathes of
ground cover. The taller ones make fine anchor
plants in perennial borders, and are often placed
in groups towards the middle or even the back to
raise their upright spikes above surrounding
companions.
Deer seem to find them less
palatable than many other species, so while they
are not deer resistant, they do not seem to be
part of their favored menu! Hummingbirds, on the
other hand, like to visit the flowers and sip the
nectar.
They are good for cutting as fresh
flowers, lasting up to a week when cut at the
right stage and conditioned. See Splendor
Suggestions for details.
Light Preference
Sun to Partial shade
Culture
Reliable, easy to grow, and long
lived, they perform best in loamy, well drained
soils that have the capacity of retaining moisture
in summer. This can be enhanced by adding
compost or other humus media at planting time and
mulching afterwards.
After flowering, trim off the dead heads; this
will encourage new growth and renewed
flowering.
Older clumps can be lifted and
divided when they become overcrowded and begin
to lose vigor. The best time to do this is in
spring when the young growth is emerging above
the surface.
Background
The common name Speedwell is
thought to have come from the little European
plants (Veronica officinalis) that grew by the
waysides to cheer weary travelers. They were used
in medieval times as healing herbs, and they
became the basis for `Swiss tea' a tonic tea for
liver, digestive, and intestinal complaints. The
botanical name may have come from the Greek
words phero (I bring) and nike (victory) referring
to their curative properties. More popular is the
belief that it refers to Saint Veronica who wiped
Jesus' face when He fell carrying the cross on the
road to Calvary. Whichever you believe, they are
fine garden plants and worthy of a place in every
garden- perhaps even to help cheer the face of a
weary, hard working, but satisfied
gardener!
Splendor Suggestions
Since the florets at the bottom
of the flowering spikes tend to deteriorate before
the top ones open, it is important to cut the
stems when the first flowers at the base of the
spikes are opening. Cutting them early in the
morning or late in the evening, then conditioning
them by removing the lower leaves and placing the
stems in cool water with some floral preservative,
will also help to extend the vase life. Another
point worth noting is that Veronica flowers are
sensitive to the effects of ethylene gas, which is
released by other flowers and ripening fruit, so
consider placing the arrangements in well
ventilated places, away from other flowers and
fruit.
Companion Plants
They associate well with the
cool, lime-green, ruffled foliage of Alchemilla
mollis (lady's mantle). For a silvery contrast,
try them with the ferny foliage of Artemisias or
the foamy flowers of Gypsophila (Baby's Breath).
Where an eye catching ground cover is required,
they can be planted among drifts of Lamium 'White
Nancy', the flat habit and silvery leaves create
both color and contrast. The blue forms make
lovely companions for lemon flowering plants like
Coreopsis `Moonbeam' or Hemerocallis `Hyperion',
and for later combinations try them with white
flowering summer Phlox `David'.