addition—very floriferous and a good
rebloomer late in the season.
other maintenance Provide
well-draining soil, particularly over
the winter. Veronica prefers fairly
fertile soil. Staking may be required.
My experience has shown that most
cultivars and related species—includ-
ing V. ‘Sunny Border Blue’, V. spicata
‘Goodness Grows’, and V. spicata
‘Icicle’—require frequent division to
maintain a strong plant, usually by
about the 2nd or 3rd year.
related plantS Veronica spicata
subsp. incana, woolly speedwell, is a
gray-foliaged plant that must have
good drainage for survival. Deadhead-
ing can prolong bloom. The foliage
often gets tatty in midsummer; shear
it down for quick regrowth. It is
drought tolerant.
Veronica alpina ‘Alba’, white alpine
speedwell, is long blooming with
deadheading. Shear when all flower-
ing is finished. The basal foliage
remains evergreen through the winter
in the Midwest and the South.
Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’. This
species can be pruned before flowering
for height control and a slight delay in
flowering (foreground); an unpruned
plant is in the background.