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A Blue Hue for Your Spring (Even Fall) Garden

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Veronica around daffodils
Photo Credit: Mary Moore
The beautiful blue flowers of ‘Georgia Blue’ create a lovely carpet around bright yellow daffodils.
The end of winter is marked by the arrival of some wonderful flowering plants: crocus, daffodils, miniature Dutch iris – and one of my favorites, ‘Georgia Blue’ creeping Veronica (Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’).

Perhaps not as well-known as two of its taller cousins, spike or gentian speedwell, ‘Georgia Blue’ forms a hardy, low-growing groundcover with pretty blue flowers that have rings of white in their centers. These attractive little blossoms bloom profusely in spring, about the same time the daffodils start to appear. But there’s more: ‘Georgia Blue’ will bloom again in fall when the weather cools, and its leaves take on deep rusty tones in winter. (In fact, in moderate climates, the rust-colored leaves are still around when the flowers come alive in spring!) With a little care, ‘Georgia Blue’ will thrive in zones 4-9.

An excellent candidate for rock gardens, ‘Georgia Blue’ has a spreading habit and grows gently around and over rocks. It thrives in full to partial sun and requires very little maintenance. It’s particularly attractive when planted in groups and allowed to grow together to form drifts of color. The plant’s cool blue adds a lovely contrast to the bright yellows and reds of spring bulbs. And when the blossoms disappear, the small, green foliage forms a lovely backdrop for the stars of your summer garden.

Tips
  • There are many varieties of Veronica (also commonly called speedwell), so check the plant tag to find out what the habit will be like. Some species have a low, spreading habit, while others grow taller and bloom on slender spikes. Select the kind that would work best for your garden.
Facts
  • Perennials can be planted in fall or early spring. Fall planting is very helpful in warm and temperate climates because it gives roots a longer time to grow before facing extreme heat. But perennials will also do well if planted in spring – just be sure to water them more frequently during the first year or two.
 
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