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How to Grow Veronica Flowers (Speedwell): A Complete Care & Planting Guide

Speedwell, Veronica
Photo Credit
l.lika/shutterstock
Botanical Name
Veronica spp.
Plant Type
Flowers
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Blue
Pink
Purple
White
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Veronicas

Written By: Andy Wilcox Master Gardener and Gardening Contributor

If you’re dreaming of a garden bursting with color, charm, and a little bit of whimsy, look no further than Veronica flowers, better known as speedwell. These cheerful bloomers come in a rainbow of purples, pinks, blues, and whites, and they’re just as easygoing as they are eye-catching. Whether you want a ground-hugging carpet of blossoms or tall, spiky stems for your cut flower arrangements, there’s a speedwell variety waiting to shine in your yard. Ready to get planting? Let’s dig in!

About Veronicas 

There are many types of speedwells, ranging from groundcovers only a few inches tall to upright plants with tall, spikey blooms. They all belong to the genus Veronica, which has hundreds of species. There are spring and summer blooming varieties, with some flowering until autumn frost. 

With so many species of Veronica, there is one suitable for almost any growing zone in the US. As a genus, they are hardy from USDA zones 3-11, although individual species have a more narrow range.
Check the tag or the seed packet to be sure a particular speedwell is hardy in your climate. Just because it is at the garden center doesn’t mean it will survive the winter.

So many cultivars of Speedwell are available, and some common names have been used to refer to hybrids from several different species. Check the tag to be sure you are getting the one you want. 

Veronica Longifolia, known as garden speedwell or longleaf speedwell, in the garden. Credit: Gabriela Beres
Veronica Longifolia, known as garden speedwell or longleaf speedwell, in the garden. Credit: Gabriela Beres

Is Speedwell an Upright or Groundcover?

As a quick guide, upright, spiky veronicas for cut flowers or use as taller bedding plants are often cultivars of V. longifolia, V. spicata, and V. austriaca. They may be called spiked speedwell, Hungarian speedwell, or long-leaved speedwell. 

Groundcover veronicas are frequently cultivars of V. alpina, V. repens, V. prostrata, V. pectinata, and V. gentianoides. They go by common names like creeping speedwell, gentian speedwell, or creeping veronica. 

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Planting

Veronicas love full sun and, once established, are drought-tolerant—all varieties like well-drained soil. Upright speedwells will grow and bloom better in fertile soil with some compost worked in. 

Many groundcover types are happy with rocky, lower-fertility soils. They are an excellent choice for rock gardens and will fill in between pavers or cascade of small rocks. 

The ground cover varieties are slower spreaders, so purchase accordingly or divide plants the next year to help them cover the area more quickly.

When to Plant Veronicas

Transplants can be planted in the spring. (Veronica can be sowed by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn, but most people start this perennial as a transplant from the nursery.) Plant them out after your last frost date has passed. 

Plants purchased from a nursery or garden center greenhouse should be hardened off before planting. 

How to Plant Veronicas

Plant veronicas the same way as other perennials, taking into account their sunlight and soil needs.

  • Loosen the soil and mix in compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant’s container.
     
  • When placing the plant in the hole, ensure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
     
  • Water thoroughly after planting and weekly until well rooted. 
     
  • Apply mulch to keep weeds down and keep the soil cool and moist. 
     
  • If the plants are not yet branched, pinch to promote lateral growth and a bushier habit.
Veronica spicata, spiked speedwell plant with blue flowers. Credit: Kabar
Veronica spicata, spiked speedwell plant with blue flowers. Credit: Kabar

Growing

Like many perennials, speedwells don’t need much help once they are established. 

  • During the first year, water in the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Afterward, water only if needed during prolonged dry spells.
     
  • Tall varieties can benefit from some staking, especially in windy locations. 
     
  • Topdress with compost every spring (a great idea for all your perennial plants) and apply new mulch as necessary. 
     
  • Deadheading may extend bloom time. Some varieties will rebloom if their spent flowers are removed. 
     
  • Like other perennials, you should divide them every few years to reinvigorate the clump. You’ll also get more veronica! Low-growing groundcover veronicas are especially suited to dividing to keep the patch fresh and speed up their coverage.

Overwintering Speedwell

While many veronicas are cold hardy to USDA zone 4 and some are tolerant to zone 3, you can give them a hand in colder climates by cutting back the stems to an inch or two above the soil line after the frost. Cover the crowns with a thick layer of straw or other mulch. 

A couple of stakes and some old netting or chicken wire will help hold the mulch against the wind until the snow arrives to anchor it.

Types

  • ‘Crater Lake Blue’ (V. austriaca) is a mat-forming perennial that grows 12 to 18 inches tall with beautiful, deep, gentian blue flowers in early summer. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8. Great for mass plantings.
     
  • ‘Sunny Border Blue’ (V. spicata) is a clump-forming perennial with erect spikes of tubular, dark violet-blue flowers that reach 18-24 inches. This hybrid blooms from early summer to frost and makes excellent cut flowers.
     
  • ‘Red Fox’ (V. spicata) has deep pink flowers on a narrow spike similar to ‘Sunny Border Blue’ but is a bit shorter, at about 12-16 inches. Hardy to USDA zones 3-8 for the northern gardener!
Veronica spicata 'Rotfuchs' Red Fox in the garden. Credit: Irenestev
Veronica spicata ‘Rotfuchs’ Red Fox in the garden. Credit: Irenestev

‘Dick’s Wine’ (V. prostrata) is a ground cover that grows to about 4-8 inches tall and produces an abundance of rose-wine–colored blooms—so many that they actually hide the dark-green foliage. Easily divided as they grow for quicker coverage. Drought tolerant once established and deer resistant. 

A prostrate speedwell. Credit: APugach
A prostrate speedwell. Credit: APugach

Harvesting

  • Some varieties of Veronica make excellent cut flowers. For the longest vase life, bring a vase or jar with you and cut in the morning, placing them immediately in water–don’t wait until you get them up to the house.
  • Remove any foliage that would be submerged in the vase.
  • Add flower food, keep the bouquet out of direct sunlight, and change the water daily (good practice for all fresh-cut flowers from the garden). 

Gardening Products

Pests/Diseases

Wit and Wisdom

  • Speedwell has been used as traditional medicine in Korea and China for more than 100 years for respiratory problems like asthma and COPD.  
  • Some veronicas will drop their lower leaves in summer. After the first bloom flush, a good trimming will promote more low foliage and encourage more flowers. 

Flowers
About The Author
Andy Wilcox

Andy Wilcox

Master Gardener and Gardening Contributor

Andy Wilcox is a freelance writer, flower farmer, and master gardener with over 25 years of experience in gardening, horticulture, and forestry. He is the co-owner of Stone’s Throw Flowers, a business...
Read More from Andy Wilcox

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Comments

<span>Johann Domitin</span> Tue, 09/23/2014 - 05:39
We bought a Veronica plant from the garden centre a month ago with flowers soon ready to bloom. All the other plants for sale were in full bloom with vibrant purple flowers. When ours started to bloom they were purple but they quickly lost their colour (to white) and the tips are looking brown. The leaves are beginning to be a little limp too. We are on a balcony with only a little light in the mornings. Am I watering it too much? Why are the flowers white and looking 'dead'? PS, we're novices to plants but trying so hard. Thank you for any help!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/23/2014 - 11:59

Veronica will grow best in full sun. If you only have a little sun in the mornings that could be the problem. Make sure that the soil drains well and let the plant dry out between waterings.

 <span>Santhi Harmon</span> Thu, 07/10/2014 - 23:26
Help... I planted my Veronica on spring .... It's was doing well until couple of days a go I saw half of the plant look like burn but half of the plant were ok. Btw, i planted my speedwell on east of our house where they can get sun from morning till around 2-3pm. And today I saw the whole plant are dying, ... I water it pretty much everyday... Do you think I still have a chance to save the plant ???
<span>Denise O</span> Sat, 08/09/2014 - 06:13
You may be over watering. I have a ton of them on the side of my house, they get sun all day until about 4pm. They are typically fine unless it does not rain for one week.
<span>Tonyoregon</span> Thu, 07/10/2014 - 00:07
I planted one about early May. Was full of flowers but now are all gone. The plant is still alive...what happened?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 07/10/2014 - 09:09

Try cutting back your speedwell. This should encourage more blooms.

 <span>Kelley G</span> Wed, 07/09/2014 - 08:59
I'm new to gardening. Can someone describe the best way to deadhead speedwell and st what point? Do you use scissors below the base of the bloom?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 07/10/2014 - 09:06
When it comes to speedwell, cut off whole spikes or clusters of small or wilted flowers.
<span>Patricia Smith…</span> Sun, 06/15/2014 - 11:33
First time planting Veronica, a variety called "Royal Candles" and it is beautiful- has new spikes forming but the ones already flowered are turning brown from the bottom up. Was going to cut these dying ones off but do not want to destroy an otherwise healthy plant- would that be the correct thing to do? Thanks!
<span>Roslyn Hagon</span> Mon, 07/13/2015 - 16:22
Help please with purplicious Veronica's My Veronica's have been susceptible to powdery mildew from first planting, however I have been very careful to spray with fungicide since the spring and they have been excellent . However since the very hot weather I have been watering nightly . I have also used some iron of sulphate to promote growth and stop leaves yellowing . Just over the last week the plants have really suffered but I'm not sure why . The leaves hAve turned brownish black and the spikes have dropped in half . Could this be overwatering or over feeding ?? What do I need to do ??