Ash-colored speedwell (Veronica cinerea)
Veronica cinerea, Ash-colored speedwell, is a low-growing, dense perennial featuring silver-gray foliage and vibrant purple-blue flowers perfect for rock gardens.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Ash-colored speedwell, Veronica cinerea, is a valuable, low-maintenance ground cover prized for its unique silvery foliage and abundant spring blooms. This dense, mat-forming perennial offers significant aesthetic appeal earlier in the season when many other ground covers are just emerging. Its trailing stems, draped with small, silver-gray leaves, create a soft, textural blanket in the landscape.
Valued for its ease of cultivation, Veronica cinerea thrives in average garden soils, provided they are well-drained. While it enjoys regular moisture during active growth, established plants exhibit good site tolerance. The contrast between the silvery leaves and the bright purple-blue flowers in early summer makes this variety stand out in bright, sunny settings.
As an evergreen or sub-shrub in warmer climates, the Ash-colored speedwell offers year-round structure and texture. Its compact nature and low profile make it an excellent choice for softening harsh edges or filling spaces where you need reliable, low-effort coverage.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Eastern Mediterranean to Turkey
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Purple-blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal success with Veronica cinerea, plant during the spring or early fall when new growth is just starting. Select a location that receives full sun, though light afternoon shade is tolerated, especially in the hottest climates. Cultural success hinges on soil quality: ensure the medium is average and well-drained. While Veronica cinerea prefers consistent, medium moisture, sharp drainage is essential, as soggy winter soil is the primary cause of potential root rot.
Water needs are medium; provide regular irrigation to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the initial establishment phase. Once mature, the Ash-colored speedwell shows some tolerance for drier spells, but consistent moisture yields the best flowering and densest ground cover. Fertilization is rarely necessary; a light application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient if the soil is poor.
Maintenance for this speedwell is extremely low. Pruning is typically unnecessary, though you can trim it lightly after flowering to maintain a neat shape or encourage denser basal growth. Since it is low-growing and spreads slowly, invasive tendencies are not a concern, making cleanup minimal.
Landscape Uses
Veronica cinerea excels where a textural, silvery ground cover is needed near architectural elements. Its low stature (under 6 inches) makes it perfect for the very front of perennial borders, where it defines the edge without obscuring shorter herbaceous companions. It blends beautifully in rock gardens, cascading gently over stones where its drought tolerance can be leveraged after establishment.
Consider using Ash-colored speedwell along foundations or pathway edging. Its muted silver-gray foliage provides a cool contrast to plants with deep green, burgundy, or bright chartreuse leaves. It pairs well with sun-loving plants that have similar dry-tolerant needs, such as sedums, creeping thyme, or certain low-growing ornamental grasses.
When used as an “Interesting small area ground cover,” it creates sweeping swaths of color and texture. These applications showcase the tight, mat-forming habit of Veronica cinerea, creating an effective, low-tomed, weed-suppressing carpet.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Veronica cinerea, commonly known as ashen speedwell or gray speedwell, is a dense, multi-stemmed, mat-forming, evergreen perennial or sub-shrub that typically grows to only 3-6” tall, but spreads like a ground cover to 12” wide or more. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Tiny, pale purple-blue flowers with white centers bloom in early summer in abundant, upright, terminal racemes (10-25 flowers per raceme) on trailing stems clad with small, narrow, tomentose, thyme-like, silver-gray leaves. The Plant List currently maintains that Veronica cinerea is a synonym of Veronica wyomingensis.
Tolerances
No data provided.
Potential Problems
This species generally exhibits high resistance, with no serious insect or disease problems reported under proper growing conditions. The most significant threat to Veronica cinerea is root rot, which occurs when the plant is situated in wet, poorly-drained soils, particularly during the dormant season. Always ensure your planting site allows for sharp drainage, especially if the native soil is heavy clay. Avoid overwatering during the summer, particularly once the plant is established, to mimic its Mediterranean origins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Ash-colored speedwell suitable for?
Veronica cinerea is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Ash-colored speedwell grow?
This ground cover typically reaches a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet (3 to 6 inches) tall, spreading to between 0.5 and 1 foot wide.
When does Ash-colored speedwell bloom?
This perennial features its purple-blue blooms between June and July.
What sun exposure does Veronica cinerea need?
Veronica cinerea performs best across a range spanning full sun exposure through to part shade.
Conclusion
The visual appeal of the silver foliage combined with the easy-care nature ensures Veronica cinerea remains a top choice for texture and low impact in sunny borders. If you seek reliable, low-maintenance ground cover with unique coloring, look no further than the Ash-colored speedwell. Before planting, confirm your hardiness zone compatibility and amend heavy soils to guarantee sharp drainage.
Companion Planting
When selecting companions for Veronica cinerea, focus on plants that share its requirements for bright light and fast-draining soil. Consider pairing it with sun-loving, mounding herbs like culinary Thyme or Oregano; the textural combination of fine silver leaves works beautifully together. Low-growing Alliums that offer spherical purple blooms can create an excellent height contrast while blooming slightly before or concurrently with the Ash-colored speedwell.
Another successful strategy is using contrasting foliage colors. Pair the silvery-gray leaves of Veronica cinerea with plants exhibiting deep purple or fine, feathery textures, such as Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria), or even very compact Lamb’s Ears, provided the soil stays lean enough to prevent root rot in the speedwell.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the essential time for establishing Veronica cinerea and preparing the site. Top dress lightly with a balanced, slow-release feed if soil fertility is low, and ensure the area is free of debris from winter. Throughout the summer, monitor moisture; only water regularly if rainfall is scarce, remembering that established plants handle drying out better than saturated soil.
As summer transitions to fall, you generally do not need to perform any significant maintenance on this perennial. Its evergreen nature provides continued scene interest. In freezing climates (Zone 5), ensure the area does not become waterlogged as winter approaches, as frozen, wet soil is the biggest threat during dormancy.
