Veronica
Speedwell, Bird's eye
- Height × spread
- 0.1m – 1.7m × 0.2m – 0.8m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in Spring & early Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A much loved garden favourite with soft spikes of summer flowers in blue, pink or purple. There's tall ones reaching over a metre for a border centrepiece or low-growing ones for ground cover and rockeries. Some are evergreen, others die back in the autumn. All are brilliant for wildlife, a magnet for pollinators during the summer.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Brown, Mauve, Pink, Purple, Red, White
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey, Silver, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cone, Cube, Dome, Horizontal, Prostrate
- Height
- 0.1m – 1.7m
- Spread
- 0.2m – 0.8m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Water garden, Small scale garden, Shady court, Seaside garden, Rock garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Water depth
- Varieties differ
- Use for
- Ground cover, Architectural, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Maintenance
- Some varieties are easycare (low/no maintenance)
- Hazards
- Yes, some poisonous
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Planting
Divide some varieties differently
Some plant varieties within this genus have different requirements for dividing them when they get big. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for guidance, and/or check the label.
Found in
More Veronica
Veronica spicata 'Ulster Blue Dwarf'
Silver speedwell
Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue'
Speedwell, Bird's eye
Veronica 'Baby Doll'
Speedwell
Veronica 'First Love'
Speedwell
Veronica 'Inspire Blue'
Speedwell
Veronica 'Inspire Light Pink'
Speedwell
Veronica 'Inspire Pink'
Speedwell
Veronica 'Lancita Purple'
Spike speedwell