Speedwell (Veronica 'Waterperry Blue')
Veronica 'Waterperry Blue' (Speedwell) is a low, spreading perennial featuring bright lavender-blue flowers, ideal for ground cover in sunny spots.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial celebrated for its dense, creeping habit, making it an exceptional choice for ground cover applications. This specific cultivar of Speedwell forms tight mounds covered in striking, lavender-blue flowers that truly command attention when in full bloom during the late spring. Gardeners appreciate Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ for its low maintenance requirements and its ability to rapidly cover bare spots while suppressing weeds.
This vigorous Speedwell thrives when given adequate moisture and a location bathed in full sun, although it will tolerate light shade. Its small, shiny green foliage, sometimes tinged with burgundy, provides year-round interest beneath the vibrant floral display. Its compact stature ensures that Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ remains neatly tucked into borders or rock gardens without becoming unruly.
Offering a practical aesthetic, this plant delivers consistent performance across USDA Zones 4 through 8. Whether used for edging pathways or naturalizing open areas, choosing Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ provides dependable color and texture with minimal intervention required from the gardener.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Lavender, blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best results for this Speedwell are achieved by planting in the spring or fall in a location receiving full sun. Ensure the chosen site has average soil that is medium in moisture content and, critically, well-drained. Consistently sharp soil drainage, especially during the winter months, is essential to prevent cultural issues. Apply an organic mulch layer around the base of Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ to help stabilize soil temperature and retain consistent moisture levels.
Watering should be medium; aim for regular moisture, particularly during dry spells, as performance dips if the soil dries out excessively. Fertilization is rarely necessary for this vigorous ground cover. The primary cultivation task involves maintenance pruning: promptly remove spent flower spikes to encourage the possibility of intermittent reblooming throughout the summer season.
After the main flush of bloom, you can cut the plants back to the basal growth if the appearance becomes untidy. This heavy cutback encourages fresh, dense foliage to fill in before winter. Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ handles light shade well, but heavy shade will reduce flower production and may stretch the plant’s naturally neat form.
Landscape Uses
Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ excels as a low-growing solution across various landscape settings. It is perfect for use as a textural ground cover, effectively naturalizing slopes or large, sunny beds where a continuous mat of blue flowers is desired. Its low profile makes it an excellent choice for border fronts, where it softens the hard edge against pathways or retaining walls.
For more formal designs, groupings or mass plantings of this Speedwell create a stunning, cohesive carpet during its peak bloom. It also integrates beautifully into rock gardens, cascading lightly over stone edges or filling nooks between pavers. While it performs best in the ground, Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ can also add seasonal color to appropriately sized containers, provided excellent drainage is maintained.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Veronica is a genus of about 250 species of annuals, perennials and some sub-shrubs mainly from Europe. ‘Waterperry Blue’ is a low, creeping, mound-forming cultivar that grows to 5” tall and 15” wide and features tiny (1/2”), round, dark-veined, lavender-blue flowers which bloom in late April-May. Foliage is shiny green with a tinge of burgundy.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ generally boasts excellent pest and disease resistance, making it a favored low-maintenance choice. There are usually no serious insect or disease problems encountered when growing this Speedwell correctly. The most significant cultural risk involves root rot, which occurs when plants are situated in soils that retain too much water or have poor drainage, especially over winter. Ensure sharp drainage to avoid this stress entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Speedwell suitable for?
Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ grow?
This variety typically reaches a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet tall, spreading out to cover an area 1 to 1.5 feet wide.
When does Speedwell bloom?
The main bloom time for Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ is from May to June, displaying lovely lavender or blue flowers.
What sun exposure does Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ need?
This plant thrives best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade without major developmental issues.
Conclusion
The exceptionally low maintenance and vibrant color display mark Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ as an essential component for sunny ground cover needs. Its creeping habit ensures that this Speedwell provides excellent texture and dense coverage throughout the growing season. Check your local USDA zone compatibility and plan your planting for spring or fall to establish a vibrant, enduring patch of Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ in your landscape.
Companion Planting
When planning garden companions for Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’, prioritize plants that share similar cultural needs concerning sun exposure and water requirements. Since this Speedwell demands medium moisture and full sun, pairing it adjacent to shorter Alliums, creeping Thyme varieties, or low-growing Sedums works excellently. These plants complement the low stature of the Speedwell while filling in taller spaces nearby without competing aggressively for the same low-growing niche. Massing these drought-tolerant, sun-loving partners together creates a cohesive, textural tapestry that retains interest even when the Speedwell is not in peak bloom.
Design Ideas
Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ is an accomplished edging plant. Use it to line the curving border between a lawn area and a perennial bed, ensuring the vivid blue catches the eye along the transition zone. For a cottage garden effect, allow it to sprawl gently beneath taller foxgloves or salvia, letting the low mat of Veronica provide a solid color base. In modern landscapes, mass planting large drifts of this cultivar creates a sophisticated monochromatic texture that unifies different hardscape elements, like gravel paths or low stone walls.
