James H. Schutte
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Botanical Name
Veronica austriaca ssp. teucrium 'Crater Lake Blue'
Plant Common Name
Broadleaved Speedwell, Crater Lake Blue Speedwell
General Description
Offering a rare and much sought-after color for the garden, the flowers of Veronica austraica subsp. teucrium ‘Crater Lake Blue’ are the most intense, pure, dark blue imaginable. The small but vivid blooms are held in short, open spikes, and appear in late spring atop low-growing mounds of small, dark green, toothed foliage.
Thriving in full sun and reasonably rich, well-drained soil, Veronica ‘Crater Lake Blue’ is somewhat tolerant of drought, but performs best with regular moisture. It may be cut back to the ground in early summer to maintain a neat look and to encourage a flush of fresh, new foliage. ‘Crater Lake Blue’ looks amazing when combined with the spicy, soft pink blooms of Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’ and the starry, electric-yellow flowers of Allium moly ‘Jeannine’.
The genus Veronica encompasses a large number of annuals, perennials and sub-shrubs, most of which are native to Europe. Veronica species may be prostrate or upright, and occur in a variety of habitats ranging from moist meadows to dry, rocky alpine areas. Small, narrow to open, lobed, tubular flowers in shades of blue, purple, white or pink are held either singly or in dense to loose, upright spikes. The many forms of Veronica have yielded numerous excellent, garden-worthy cultivars and hybrids.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 3
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
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Width
9"-12" / 22.9cm - 30.5cm
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Bloom Time
Late Spring
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Native To
Europe
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Dark Blue
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
