Spiked Speedwell
Veronica spicata
- Perennial
- Pollinator friendly
- Low maintenance
- Rock garden
- Deer & rabbit resistant
An upright, clump-forming perennial topped with dense spikes of star-shaped blue flowers that bees and butterflies love.
Keep reading Show less
Spiked speedwell forms neat, upright clumps that send up dense spires of tiny, star-shaped blue flowers from late spring into mid-summer. It is a tidy, dependable perennial that brings strong vertical color to the front or middle of a sunny border.
A magnet for pollinators
The flower spikes are alive with bees and butterflies while in bloom, making speedwell a great choice for a pollinator or cottage garden.
Care tips
Give it full sun and well-drained soil — it dislikes soggy ground and can rot in wet winter soil. Shear the spent spikes after the first flush to encourage a second round of bloom in fall.
Habitat & form
Where it's from and what to expect.
- Native range
- Europe and northern Asia
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Mature size
- 2–3 ft tall and 2–2.5 ft wide.
- Bloom
- Blue, star-shaped flowers in dense spikes from late spring to mid-summer.
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–8.
Care
How to keep it happy.
- Sunlight
- Full sun.
- Water
- Prefers moist, well-drained soil; prone to root rot in wet ground, especially over winter.
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter or loam, with good drainage.
- Pruning
- Maintenance: shear spent spikes after the first flush to spark a second bloom, and cut the clump to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide every few years to keep it vigorous.