Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Icicle')

Overview

Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’, commonly known as Spiked speedwell, is highly valued by gardeners for its striking, dense spikes of pure white flowers that contrast beautifully against its foliage mound. This upright, clump-forming perennial provides reliable summer color, typically blooming from May through July. As an attractive addition to sunny borders, Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ reliably draws in bees and butterflies.

This herbaceous perennial is adaptable but performs best when provided with consistent moisture and sharp soil drainage, especially during winter dormancy. While it tolerates light shade, achieving the best flower display for your Spiked speedwell requires full sun exposure in your landscape planning.

With its low maintenance needs and charming vertical accent, Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ is an excellent choice for adding texture and brightness to mixed plantings. Deadheading spent flower spikes encourages rebloom, ensuring this cultivar remains a garden favorite throughout the season.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1.5-2 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: May to July
• Bloom Description: White
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ during the spring or fall in a location that receives full sun. Achieving optimal performance relies heavily on soil conditions; choose an average, well-drained medium where moisture is consistent. Because this Spiked speedwell has shallow roots, it struggles in dry soil, requiring regular watering, especially during establishment or hot summer periods.

Maintenance for this variety is generally low. Remove spent flower spikes promptly after they fade to encourage a fresh flush of bloom throughout early summer. If the plant becomes messy after its initial show, you can significantly cut the stems back to the basal growth to neaten the mound until the next season begins.

Be especially mindful of drainage during the winter months. While Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ handles cold well in zones 4 through 9, wet, poorly-drained conditions are the primary culprit for root rot issues, so amend heavy soils appropriately before planting.

Landscape Uses

The vertical structure of Spiked speedwell makes it indispensable for adding height and linear interest within landscape designs. Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ excels when positioned toward the middle or back of perennial borders, interrupting masses of shorter, mounding plants. Its clean white spires are excellent for achieving a formal cottage garden look or blending into modern, crisp designs.

Use this variety near foundations, along pathways, or within rock gardens where drainage is naturally enhanced. Due to its upright form, it pairs beautifully with contrasting textures, such as silver-leaved plants or fine grasses, and works well alongside neighbors like peonies or coreopsis that bloom earlier or later in the season.

Furthermore, the pure white racemes of Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ are highly regarded as a fresh cut flower. Harvesting the spikes, which typically reach 18–24 inches tall, provides reliable material for bouquets, lending a classic, airy quality to floral arrangements.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Good Cut

Noteworthy Characteristics

Veronica spicata, commonly known as spike speedwell, is characterized by its upright, clump-forming habit. The cultivar ‘Icicle’ specifically features dense, upright, terminal spikes of tiny, pure white flowers, typically standing 18-24” high between May and July. The foliage consists of light to grayish-green, lance-shaped leaves that form a neat mound beneath the flower display. Genus members are also noted for attracting beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ generally exhibits good resistance to most common garden pests and diseases, making it a reliable performer. The most significant cultural problem to avoid is poor soil drainage. Root rot is a distinct possibility if the soil remains waterlogged, particularly over winter when the plant is less actively growing. Ensure your planting site drains sharply to keep your Spiked speedwell healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Spiked speedwell suitable for?

Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ is hardy and suitable for cultivation across USDA Zones 4 through 9, offering reliable perennial interest throughout much of the country.

How large does Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ grow?

This perennial typically matures to a height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 1 to 1.5 feet wide, creating a compact vertical presence.

When does Spiked speedwell bloom?

Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ provides a lovely show starting in May and continues its display of white flowers through July.

What sun exposure does Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ need?

For the best growth and most prolific blooming, this Spiked speedwell requires full sun exposure in the garden.

Conclusion

Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ delivers consistent structure and bright, pure white color with minimal effort, solidifying its role as a garden staple. Incorporating this low-maintenance Spiked speedwell into your sunny borders ensures vertical appeal and attracts beneficial pollinators throughout the summer months. Before planting, always confirm your local climate falls within USDA Zones 4-9 and prepare your soil for excellent drainage.

Companion Planting

Selecting appropriate neighbors enhances the beauty and health of your Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’. Because this plant needs sun and medium moisture, pair it with other perennials that share similar cultural needs. Consider planting softer, mounding textures nearby, such as Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) for contrasting silvery foliage, or shorter Salvia varieties which bloom sequentially.

For a classic color scheme, white flowers pair well with cool blues or rich purples. Look to plants like Catmint (Nepeta) or tall forms of Amsonia, ensuring they don’t overcrowd the Spiked speedwell’s shallow root zone. Proper spacing is key to both air circulation and allowing the clean lines of the white spikes to stand out.

Design Ideas for Vertical Interest

The strong vertical lines provided by the flower spikes of Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ are perfect for breaking up horizontal landscape lines. Use them to punctuate the ends of beds or line walkways where you need bright, repeating accents. When mass planted, these tall white spires create a powerful, shimmering movement during summer breezes.

Consider grouping three or five plants together rather than scattering them individually; this massing technique makes the white color more impactful from a distance. Furthermore, because the foliage stays neat even after the flowers fade, this plant functions well as a “filler” element between larger shrubs or early-blooming spring bulbs.