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Veronica 'EVELINE' speedwell
Veronica
The genus Veronica belongs among the most numerous and the most diverse groups of flowering plants of the temperate zone. It includes several hundred species distributed almost worldwide, from alpine meadows and forest understories to dry steppes and coastal rocks. It was described in the 18th century by Carl Linnaeus, who adopted an already established name linked to the legend of Saint Veronica. The legend says that she offered Christ a piece of cloth during his arduous journey to Golgotha, with which he wiped sweat and blood off his face. His image was said to have miraculously imprinted itself on the fabric, the so‑called vera icon, or “true image”. This idea of a faithful, unembellished imprint of reality was symbolically transferred in pre‑modern botany to speedwells, whose small, clearly drawn flowers were perceived as honest and needing no adornment.
Long‑leaved speedwell (Veronica longifolia) is a European perennial, first described botanically in 1753. It is a characteristic species of damp meadows and river floodplains across Central and Northern Europe, where it formed a natural part of the traditional agricultural landscape for centuries. In meadow communities it was valued as a stable, long‑lived perennial able to tolerate repeated mowing while continuing to provide forage for pollinators during high summer, when many other meadow species had already finished flowering. Its prominent spike‑like inflorescences are an important nectar source for bumblebees, solitary bees, and butterflies, and the species is still regarded as an indicator of well‑preserved, species‑rich grasslands. It reached North America unintentionally, mainly through seed and hay imported from Europe during the 19th century. Although it has locally naturalised on moist sites in parts of the north‑eastern and midwestern United States, it has never behaved invasively and remains scattered and localised. Owing to its combination of adaptability, ecological value, and non‑invasive behaviour, it has become one of the key parent species in modern breeding, particularly for the development of cultivars with longer inflorescences and an extended flowering period.
Eveline belongs to those speedwells we can, without much exaggeration, call signature plants – an awful word, isn’t it? But it fits, because it offers a unique tone that is truly exceptional within the genus, and with which its Dutch breeder Marco van Noort firmly placed his mark on the list of respected and sought‑after cultivars of this reliable perennial. The colour is a rich lilac to soft magenta. The flower spikes are strictly upright, 12–15 cm long, appearing from mid‑June to late July. If you cut the plant back right after flowering and feed it, it can offer a second, lighter flush in late August. The clump is compact, 40–50 cm tall, with firm, dark green leaves. The variety stands out for its vigour and reliable garden performance. It was introduced to the market in 2003 through Future Plants, and the plant patent PP14888 was granted in 2004.
Veronica ‘Eveline’ looks best in combinations that let its lilac‑magenta tone breathe while gently supporting it. It pairs beautifully with blue and purple hues – for example with meadow‑type geraniums, delphiniums or blue‑flowered campanulas. It also excels in meadow‑style and naturalistic landscapes, where its slender spikes naturally link with fine, moisture‑loving grasses such as deschampsia, calamagrostis or smaller panicum cultivars. It works well with white or pale‑yellow leucanthemum and lychnis too. For contrast in both colour and foliage, heucheras with coloured foliage are an excellent choice. Thanks to its height, it fits perfectly into the middle layer of borders, where it creates a light, vertical accent without feeling harsh or rigid.
Long‑leaved speedwell is an undemanding and reliable perennial that performs best in full sun to light partial shade, provided the soil retains sufficient moisture. It prefers deeper, humus‑rich soils that remain evenly moist, but will also tolerate ordinary garden conditions as long as the soil does not dry out completely during summer. In drier locations it benefits from occasional watering, especially during the period of bud formation. After the main flush of flowering, spent stems can be cut back to encourage the development of new shoots and often a lighter repeat bloom. The plant is fully frost‑hardy to approximately −34 °C and requires no winter protection; it can remain in the same position for many years without the need for transplanting, although older clumps benefit from rejuvenation by division after several seasons. It is also suitable for year‑round cultivation in outdoor containers, provided regular watering is maintained.
Last update 05-01-2013; 29-12-2025
