Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Blue Charm')
Veronica spicata 'Blue Charm' offers low-maintenance, showy blue spikes for borders. Hardy in Zones 3-8 with medium water needs.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’, commonly known as Spiked speedwell, is valued by gardeners for its reliable performance and striking floral display throughout the summer months. This compact, bushy perennial produces dense, upright spikes of tiny, lavender-blue flowers, adding vertical interest to mixed plantings. The foliage forms a neat, medium-green mound from which the flower stems gracefully emerge, making Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ an excellent choice for structured garden designs.
As an easily managed herbaceous perennial, Spiked speedwell requires minimal input once established, thriving in full sun conditions. Its robust nature allows it to fit seamlessly into the middle or front of borders, attracting beneficial pollinators with its mid-summer blooms. Gardeners appreciate this cultivar for its low maintenance requirements and excellent resistance to common pests.
The consistent color display provided by Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ ensures the garden remains vibrant from July into August. Whether used for mass planting, defining an edge, or cut for indoor arrangements, this variety of Spiked speedwell provides lasting structural and chromatic appeal. Ensure it receives consistent moisture coupled with sharp drainage for the best results.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: July to August
- Bloom Description: Blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ in spring or fall, ensuring the location provides full sun exposure for the most prolific flowering. This species thrives in average, well-drained soil. Although it performs best with consistent moisture, the soil structure must allow water to pass through readily, especially through the winter, as these plants have shallow roots and dislike soggy conditions.
Watering should be regular, maintaining medium soil moisture levels without allowing the roots to sit in standing water. Fertilization is generally not required in fertile garden soils, but a light application of balanced fertilizer in the spring can support robust growth. A key aspect of care for Spiked speedwell is routine maintenance pruning; remove spent flower spikes promptly to encourage rebloom throughout the summer season.
Plants may be cut back entirely to their basal foliage once the main flowering period concludes. This encourages a tidy appearance heading into fall. While Spiked speedwell tolerates light shade, full sun maximizes bloom density and keeps the sturdy stems upright. Pay close attention to drainage, as poor soil drainage is the primary cause of winter failure for Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’.
Landscape Uses
Spiked speedwell shines in traditional garden settings, lending vertical structure and cool blue tones to the landscape palette. Its compact size makes it ideal for defining the front edge of perennial borders or softening the base of foundation plantings where they receive adequate sunlight. Groupings of Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ create stunning ribbons of blue contrasting beautifully against white or yellow blooming companions.
Due to its excellent flower quality, this plant performs well when harvested for fresh bouquets. Consider planting clusters near vegetable gardens or kitchen entryways for easy access to cut spikes. Furthermore, its relatively deer and rabbit resistance makes it a reliable choice for beds visible from patios or seating areas where browsing pressure is common.
Rock gardens also benefit from the texture and spire-like form of Spiked speedwell. Plant it strategically so that lower-growing, spreading plants spill over nearby stone edges, enhancing the visual texture offered by the upright racemes of Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Veronica spicata, commonly known as spike speedwell, is an upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that typically produces a summer-long bloom of tiny, star-shaped, violet-blue flowers in dense, long-flowering, tapered-at-the-top, spike-like terminal racemes atop stems rising well above a foliage mound to 24-30” tall. Foliage consists of toothed, narrow, linear to lanceolate, medium green leaves (each to 2” long). ‘Blue Charm’ is specifically noted as a compact, bushy plant which features dense, upright, terminal spikes of tiny, lavender-blue flowers which bloom most of the summer, typically rising to 18” tall. Flowers are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
This plant generally suffers from no serious insect or disease issues, which contributes to its low maintenance rating. The most significant threat to the health of Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ is improper soil conditions. Root rot remains a genuine possibility if the soil retains excessive moisture or is considered poorly-drained, particularly during the dormant winter months. Ensuring sharp drainage during site preparation is the best preventative measure against rot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Spiked speedwell suitable for?
Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Spiked speedwell grow?
This compact cultivar typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with a similar spread of 1 to 1.5 feet at maturity.
When does Spiked speedwell bloom?
Spiked speedwell produces its noteworthy blue flowers primarily from July through August.
What sun exposure does Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ need?
For optimal performance, Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ requires full sun, though it can tolerate light shade.
Conclusion
The consistent spires of blue bloom, coupled with its inherent deer and rabbit resistance, make Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ a stalwart choice for summer garden interest. This Spiked speedwell offers both aesthetic appeal and ease of care, thriving with minimal intervention provided roots are kept well-drained. Before planting, verify your local climate falls within USDA Zones 3-8 and prepare your soil to meet its medium moisture and sharp drainage needs.
Companion Planting
When selecting companions for Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’, prioritize plants that share its love for full sun and excellent drainage, while offering textural contrast. Consider pairing it with broad-leaved plants to offset the narrow, linear leaves of the speedwell. Excellent partners include hardy salvias, catmint (Nepeta species), or compact rudbeckias, which bloom concurrently or slightly later, extending the visual interest of the border.
Avoid placing Spiked speedwell directly next to moisture-loving plants like Astilbe, as the resulting watering schedule conflicts could lead to root rot in the Veronica during dry spells. The vertical habit of Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ also works well when backed by taller grasses or shorter, mounding Geraniums placed in the foreground.
Wildlife Benefits
The dense, tapered spikes of Veronica spicata ‘Blue Charm’ are magnets for foraging pollinators throughout the mid-summer months. The tiny, star-shaped flowers offer accessible nectar sources for a wide variety of beneficial insects. Gardeners should note that these blooms are highly attractive to both bees and butterflies, making this one of the more valuable low-growing spire-forming perennials for supporting local pollinator populations. Integrating this plant supports biodiversity while providing structure.
