Veronica 'BABY BLUE' 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.
Spiked speedwell is our native European perennial, botanically described as early as the 18th century. In the wild, it grows on dry meadows, steppe slopes, and open hillsides of Europe and western Asia with well‑drained soils, where it forms firm, compact clumps and blooms in upright spikes. It belongs to the group of speedwells adapted to full sun and relatively dry conditions. The inflorescences appear from early summer and give the plant a clear, vertical silhouette which distinguishes it from creeping or ground‑covering species. It is often hybridized with related species (V. longifolia, V. incana) to obtain longer inflorescences, slightly different foliage, or increased drought tolerance. The combination of its simplicity and natural beauty has ensured its long‑standing popularity in cottage and naturalistic gardens, and in England it has even become the official flower of Montgomeryshire in Wales.
Baby Blue is a beautiful blue speedwell from the Dutch breeder Walter Blom. It forms a low, perfectly even mound of densely branched stems topped in summer with a profusion of short, deep‑blue flower spikes that light up the garden from morning until dusk. Thanks to its finer foliage it looks more delicate than the classic spicata types, yet it flowers with surprising persistence – from early summer well into autumn if the spent blooms are removed regularly. Its compact habit, dense leaf cover and exceptional vigour make it one of the most reliable low-growing veronicas for modern perennial plantings as well as for container use. The cultivar was granted US plant patent No. PP20198 in 2009.
As a hybrid between V. spicata × V. austriaca, it combines the best of both the parents: the compact, dense habit and long flowering period of spicata, together with the toughness, adaptability and ability to quickly fill space inherited from austriaca. It performs best at the front of perennial borders, on sunny rock gardens or in containers, where it forms low blue cushions over a long season. It thrives in full sun and well‑drained, rather dry soil, where it remains dependable and virtually maintenance‑free. Thanks to its vigour and willingness to repeat flowering, it is an ideal choice for contemporary plantings that require long-lasting colour without demanding care.
Spiked speedwell and its hybrids are undemanding, long‑lived perennials that perform best in full sun and in well‑drained, rather dry soils. They do not tolerate waterlogging: during summer, excess moisture may lead to powdery mildew, while winter wet can cause root rot. On the other hand, they cope well with drought and summer heat. Except for cultivars explicitly noted as remontant without cutting, we recommend cutting the stems back to ground level after flowering, which encourages re-growth and often a second, lighter flush of bloom. The plant is fully hardy to abt. −34 °C (USDA zone 4) and requires no special care or winter protection. It can also be grown year‑round in outdoor containers, provided excellent drainage is ensured as well as occasional light watering.
Last update 14-06-2020; 29-12-2025
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