Veronica x media 'Allkiss' FIRST KISS® hybrid 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.
Veronica × media is a natural interspecific hybrid arising from the crossing of spiked speedwell (V. spicata) and long-leaved speedwell (V. longifolia) wherever the two species meet in the wild. The botanical name was introduced by the German botanist Carl Ernst August Weihe (1779–1834), who was the first to describe this recurring natural phenomenon. While V. spicata comes from dry meadows and forms lower, more compact clumps, V. longifolia grows in moister habitats and is taller, with longer and more abundant flower spikes. The hybrid group Veronica × media takes the best from both the parents: medium height, a firm, upright habit, a clear vertical presence in the border and a long flowering season, which has made it a valued part of European gardens since the 19th century.
After a big success with FIRST LOVE® speedwell Dutch breeder Wilhelmus van den Hoogen continues in his romantic series and in 2017 introduces another variety called FIRST KISS®. Its flowers are truly as sweetly pink as the first kiss you ever received — and surely that is something we all remember for the rest of our lives, isn’t it. This speedwell carries longer flower spikes than its predecessor, usually around 15–17 cm, and the breeder even counted how many individual florets make up a single spike: roughly five hundred. They appear on 50–60 cm tall stems from mid‑June for about three weeks, and if you cut back the spent spikes after the main flush, the plant will soon produce new ones from the lower nodes and continue flowering until September. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, finely toothed along the edges and deep green. Patent PP28797 was granted in 2017. Although it is a cross of unnamed seedlings of V. longifolia, the nomenclature favours the hybrid name Veronica × media, as the exact parentage is not fully certain.
‘First Kiss’ is an ideal choice for gardens where you prefer a gentle, calming colour that does not overpower its neighbours yet still brings lightness and ease. It fits beautifully among perennials in similarly soft shades, or you can create a tone‑on‑tone border with a rich palette of pink‑flowering plants, brightened here and there with white blossoms of baby’s breath or gaura. The pastel pink of this cultivar is distinctive enough to stand on its own as a larger perennial island among low shrubs, adding freshness and a seasonal shift. Thanks to its firm growth it is also suitable for narrower borders and front gardens, where a plant that keeps its shape and does not flop is essential, and in smaller gardens it feels especially welcoming, bringing a gentle touch of colour without overwhelming the space.
Veronica × media ranks among the most reliable summer perennials of temperate climates and require no special care. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate light partial shade if they receive at least half a day of light. It prefers well‑drained, moderately moist soil that does not dry out completely in summer, and it appreciates a thin layer of compost in spring. After the first flowering it is advisable to remove the spent spikes, which encourages a second flush and keeps the clump compact. It can be grown in containers only for short periods, as they quickly exhaust the space and are more sensitive to drying out. Wind does not trouble it; the stems are firm and remain upright. The plant is neither poisonous nor allergenic and overwinters reliably in temperate climates without any protection. Hardiness may vary slightly between cultivars, but the hybrid group tolerates winter lows of around –34 °C (USDA zone 4).
Last update 19-07-2020; 29-12-2025
