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Speedwell

Veronica (veh-RON-ih-kah)

Family: Plantaginaceae Non-native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Veronica has about 250 species that range from low growing to erect with spikey flowers. It prefers regular even moisture in well-drained soils. Cut back to the rosette after bloom as many will rebloom. Many cultivars and hybrids are available. These must be propagated asexually to maintain cultivar characteristics. Most veronicas provide a strong vertical accent in the garden. The small flowers are borne on upright, slender racemes, flowering from the bottom to the top. Creeping speedwell produces single small light blue flowers in the spring and is a groundcover.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 48 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Veronica arvensis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Weed; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Horizontal
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-inch narrow lance-shaped leaves
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pointed spike with many small flowers in various colors.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Russia, Europe
Wildlife value
Attract bees and butterflies
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#purple #deer resistant #winter annual weed #spring interest #butterfly friendly #summer flowers #pink flowers #HS302 #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #bee friendly #white flowers #perennial #cpp #HS303 #weedy
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Resistant to
Deer; Diseases; Drought; Insect Pests
Propagation
Division; Seed; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.