Creeping speedwell (Veronica repens 'Sunshine')
Veronica repens 'Sunshine' offers unique golden foliage ground cover. This Creeping speedwell is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and ideal for rock gardens.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’, commonly known as Creeping speedwell, is celebrated not just for its fleeting purple blooms, but primarily for its striking, mat-forming foliage. This cultivar hugs the ground, creating a dense carpet of tiny, bright gold leaves that provide season-long visual interest. When well-established, this variety performs beautifully as a durable, low-growing green infrastructure.
This herbaceous perennial thrives across USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9, demanding relatively little attention once settled. It prefers consistent sunlight but can tolerate light shade, making it versatile for sunny borders or rock crevices. Gardeners value Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ for its ability to effectively suppress weeds without needing constant intervention.
The value of Creeping speedwell lies in its textural contrast against standard green plantings. Despite its low stature—rarely exceeding one inch in height—Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ spreads reliably, offering excellent coverage for challenging small areas. It brings a welcome splash of pale yellow-gold that brightens up shady corners early in the season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25 ft
- Spread: 0.25-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ is easiest to establish when planted in spring or autumn, provided the soil conditions meet its needs. It thrives in average, well-drained soil, tolerating conditions ranging from dry to medium moisture levels. Ensure the site receives full sun for the best golden foliage color, although it will tolerate light shade, where the gold may appear slightly muted.
Maintenance for this ground-hugging speedwell is minimal. It generally requires little to no supplemental fertilizer; over-fertilization can lead to leggy growth rather than compact mats. Watering should be consistent until the plant is established, after which its dry to medium preference means it handles sporadic drought well, making it excellent for xeriscaping or difficult slopes.
For gardeners in the colder end of its range (Zone 6), special attention must be paid to winter protection. Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ requires a protected location and a heavy layer of winter mulch to ensure survival through hard freezes, such as those experienced in the St. Louis area. Spring cleanup involves lightly raking any accumulated debris from above the low foliage.
Landscape Uses
The primary function of Creeping speedwell in landscape design is as a textured, spreading ground cover. Due to its extremely low profile, it works perfectly when you need to fill small gaps between stepping stones or cover exposed soil in rock gardens where taller plants would obscure vision. Consider using Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ as an edging plant along pathways that receive heavy foot traffic, provided the traffic is light, as it prefers to be undisturbed.
Its unique golden foliage makes it an excellent textural and color companion to spring bulbs like daffodils or tulips, offering bright contrast as they emerge. When used as a naturalized element, allow Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ to flow softly around structural plants like low boxwoods or dwarf conifers. Because it prefers dry conditions once established, pair it with other perennials that share similar drought tolerance for unified water management.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
This creeping speedwell cultivar is a ground-hugging, mat-forming plant which grows only to 1” tall. Stems are clothed in tiny gold leaves (1/2”) which more closely resemble Soleirolia (baby’s tears) than most veronicas. It is grown primarily for its foliage effect, though it occasionally produces small clusters of tiny purple flowers above the foliage, primarily in spring.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
This plant is generally free of serious insect or disease problems, which adds significantly to its appeal as a low-maintenance perennial. Gardeners rarely need to apply pesticides or fungicides to successfully manage Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’. Focus your preventative efforts on ensuring excellent drainage, as standing or overly saturated soil is the main stressor that could invite minor fungal issues in the foliage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Creeping speedwell suitable for?
Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 6 through 9. Gardeners in Zone 6 should provide winter mulch and protection for best results.
How large does Creeping speedwell grow?
This ground cover is exceptionally small, typically reaching a mature height of only 0.25 feet (about 1 inch tall) and spreading between 0.25 and 1 foot wide.
What sun exposure does Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ need?
Full sun is the preferred exposure to maximize the vibrant gold coloration of the foliage, though it can tolerate light shade.
When does Creeping speedwell bloom?
The slight blooming period for this speedwell usually occurs from May to June, producing small clusters of purple flowers above the golden mat.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions that appreciate sharp drainage and full sun ensures a cohesive planting scheme alongside Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’. Excellent partners include low creeping thyme varieties, Sedums, or certain drought-tolerant Campanulas that share its low-growing structure. Avoid pairing it with aggressive moisture-loving plants, as the resulting wet soil will quickly compromise the health of the Creeping speedwell.
For rock gardens, consider adding silver-leaved plants like Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) nearby to enhance the textural contrast provided by the fine gold leaves of Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’. In sunny borders, use it as a living mulch beneath taller coreopsis or ornamental grasses that will appreciate dry feet during the middle of summer.
Design Ideas: Utilizing Foliage Contrast
The defining feature of Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ is its brilliant, fine-textured gold foliage, which should be leveraged for contrast rather than relying on its infrequent purple flowers. Place this plant where it can spill over the edge of a retaining wall or large container; its diminutive size creates a beautiful softening effect against hard materials.
Use this cultivar in geometric patterns within a formal bed, perhaps alternating strips with a dark green or blue-foliaged substitute like Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’ or Sagina subulata (Irish Moss for contrast). The gold carpet effect of Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ ensures that even when flowers are absent, the visual interest remains high throughout the growing season.
Conclusion
Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ is an indispensable choice for gardeners seeking ultra-low-maintenance, vibrant gold ground cover. Its dry tolerance, pest resistance, and extremely short habit make Creeping speedwell ideal for filling tight spaces. Before planting, confirm your locality falls within USDA Zones 6-9 and ensure you provide well-drained soil to enjoy years of this beautiful, mat-forming perennial.
