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James H. Schutte
Scrophulariaceae
Veronica spicata
Spike Speedwell
A perennial classic, spike speedwell is a prized long-blooming herbaceous ornamental that offers pretty spikes of flowers in summer and sometimes into fall. This clump or mat-forming plant comes from Europe and western Asia where it inhabits open grasslands, hills and woodsides. The foliage can be light to dark green, or silvery gray-green in the case of subspecies incana and its hybrids. In summer it bears candelabra-like clusters of many small purple, violet-blue, rose, pink, or white flowers. They are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Bloom will often be prolonged if spent racemes are removed. The foliage turns golden yellow to yellow green in fall.
This sun-loving perennial grows best in fertile to average soil with good drainage. It is a great plant for rock gardens and mixed borders and can even be used as a small-scale herbaceous groundcover. It pairs well with Dianthus, blue fescue and dwarf daylilies.
8 - 1
3 - 8
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Perennial
Full Sun
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Europe, Western Asia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Salt
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
White, Purple, Pink, Rose, Blue Violet
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Yellow, Gray Green, Dark Green
No
Single
Yes
Medium
Container, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Butterflies
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