Gardeners are often looking for good solid perennials that will have nice flowers, be easy to take care of, grow nicely but not take over the garden. One group of plants that should be considered is the Veronicas. There are several species of this durable perennial and probably dozens of different cultivars to choose from. Most of them are hardy for our area withstanding our cold and often open winters yet they can also take the heat and drought of our summers. Flowers range in color from white to pink or blue-purple.
Veronicas offer the gardener a wide array of plants to work into many different landscaping niches in the garden. Some are prostrate, only raising their flowers a few inches above the ground while others can reach 4’ in height and make excellent cut flowers. Many work well in the rock garden while others are better suited to a moister location in the mixed border. Some are late spring blooming while others display their flowers for the rest of the summer and even up until frost. Deadheading will usually encourage additional flowers to develop, extending their period of bloom. Most Veronicas can be easily propagated by spring or fall division, stem cuttings during the summer or by seed, but vegetative means should be used when propagating cultivars as they will often not come true from seed. Even though they are easy to propagate from seed, they seldom self-seed and do not spread by rhizomes so they do not tend to take over the garden. However, the low-growing types will readily increase in size as the creeping stems grow over the ground; they look good draping over rocks or walls.
Veronica incana, or wooly speedwell has 3-6” long terminal spikes of blue flowers over a plant comprised of silvery-white leaves and stems. Plants grow about 12-15” tall and prefer a full sun location with very well drained soils. Like other hairy-leaved plants, excess moisture will cause leaf loss and wet winter weather may kill the plant. This species works well as an edging plant and is very attractive in bloom but looks great with its silver foliage all season long. There are a number of cultivars available including: ‘Glauca’ – more silvery foliage and deeper blue flowers; ‘Silver Carpet’ – purple flowers with silvery leaves; ‘Wendy’ – lavender-blue flowers.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: iGrow/SDSU Extension