Veronica spicata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- veh-RON-ih-ka spi-KAH-tuh
- Description
-
Speedwell is a herbaceous perennial that is easy to grow. It prefers moist, well-drained soil in the full sun. Blooms late spring to mid-summer. Shear down to the basal rosette when done blooming for repeat fall blooms. Use this plant for cut flowers, rock gardens, borders and perennial beds.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur in overly wet soils especially in the winter.
Quick ID
- Flowers blue, in dense terminal racemes
- Flowers small, star-shaped
- Leaves opposite, toothed in middle
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Icicle'
White flower - ‘Purpleicious'
Purple flowers - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Royal Candles'
Compact, purple flowers - 'Tickled Pink'
Pink flowers
- 'Icicle'
- 'Icicle', ‘Purpleicious', 'Rosea', 'Royal Candles', 'Tickled Pink'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Icicle'
White flower - ‘Purpleicious'
Purple flowers - 'Rosea'
Pink flowers - 'Royal Candles'
Compact, purple flowers - 'Tickled Pink'
Pink flowers
- 'Icicle'
- 'Icicle', ‘Purpleicious', 'Rosea', 'Royal Candles', 'Tickled Pink'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Veronica
- Species:
- spicata
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Terminal racemes appear in summer on 24 - 30 inch stems with many tiny blue star-shaped flowers. Spikes narrow at the tips.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 2-inch long leaves are opposite, simple, linear-lanceolate to oblong to ovate, acute, cuneate, crenate to subentire apically and basally, pubescent.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
