Veronica (speedwell)

About Veronica (speedwell)

Garden speedwells make neat clumps with tall spikes of small blue, purple, pink or white flowers from late spring into summer, and some creeping kinds make low groundcovers. Bees and butterflies visit, and deer and rabbits leave them alone. A few other speedwells are lawn weeds, but the upright garden kinds are well-behaved.

Spike speedwell is hardy in zones 3-8; the genus runs to zone 9.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Grow from divisions, cuttings or seed; named cultivars need to be divided or grown from cuttings to stay true (NC State).

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil; roots can rot in soggy winter soil (NC State).

Follow a soil test; work 2-3 inches of compost into the top 4-6 inches of soil (Clemson).

Feeding

• early spring, before new growth starts: slow-release complete fertilizer such as 12-6-6. Scatter 1-2 lb per 100 sq ft and water it in (Clemson).

Wet winter soil can rot the roots (NC State).

Harvest

Blooms late spring to midsummer. Shear back to the leafy base after the first flush for another round of flowers in fall (NC State). The spikes make good cut flowers.

Varieties (7)

Extension sources we could open name only a few speedwell cultivars.

Pests to watch for

Foliar nematodes

Diseases and problems

Root rot

In the kitchen

Pets: We found no ASPCA entry for veronica (speedwell), so we can't say it is pet-safe; discourage pets from chewing it.