Speedwell (Veronica 'Heraud')
Veronica 'Heraud' Speedwell offers long-lasting violet-blue summer blooms. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Veronica ‘Heraud’ Speedwell is a highly valued addition to temperate gardens for its reliable, extended period of color. This herbaceous perennial is renowned for its dense, upright spikes of intense violet-blue flowers, offering visual interest from late spring right through summer. Gardeners appreciate the relatively compact stature and neat habit of Veronica ‘Heraud’, making it an excellent choice for structured border designs.
This specific cultivar of Speedwell thrives best when placed in full sun, ensuring the most consistent bloom production throughout the season. While its needs are straightforward, providing proper soil drainage is crucial for the long-term establishment of this perennial. The reliable nature and adaptability of Veronica ‘Heraud’ contributes significant cool-toned color to the mid-border.
Beyond its striking aesthetic appeal, Veronica ‘Heraud’ contributes low maintenance and good performance in sunny locations. Its dark green foliage provides a solid backdrop for the bright summer flowers, making this Speedwell a sturdy workhorse in perennial plantings and rock gardens alike.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Violet blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best location for Veronica ‘Heraud’ involves full sun exposure, although it will tolerate light shade without a significant reduction in performance. When planting, ensure the location offers average, medium moisture, well-drained soil. Sharp drainage, particularly during the winter months, is essential to prevent root issues common in overly saturated ground.
Maintenance for this Speedwell is generally low, focusing primarily on moisture management and deadheading. Apply an organic mulch layer around the base to help maintain consistent soil moisture levels, which is key for optimal performance. Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells.
To maximize the blooming window of Veronica ‘Heraud’, make it a practice to remove spent flower spikes promptly. This simple pruning encourages the plant to put energy into producing new blooms rather than setting seed. Following heavy flowering, the plants can be cut back to their basal growth to clean up their appearance.
For overwintering, ensure the soil drains well; Veronica ‘Heraud’ does not handle wet winter soil. Minimal care is needed outside of these cultural requirements, allowing this perennial to establish and return reliably year after year.
Landscape Uses
Veronica ‘Heraud’ Speedwell excels in locations where a neat, upright habit is required. It is perfectly suited for the fronts of borders, providing structure near taller background plantings, or massed together for an impactful drift of violet-blue color. Its refined look makes it an excellent choice for formal or contemporary garden designs.
Due to its manageable size (growing to about 16 inches tall and wide), this cultivar works wonderfully as an edging plant alongside walkways or defining the transition between lawn and perennial beds. Consider planting Veronica ‘Heraud’ alongside lighter colored flowers, such as white daisies or pale yellow coreopsis, to make the deep blue spikes truly pop.
This versatile plant also performs well when grouped in rock gardens or nestled into foundation plantings where sun exposure is high. For a flexible design, try incorporating Veronica ‘Heraud’ into large containers, ensuring the potting mix allows for the necessary sharp drainage.
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. The genus name honors Saint Veronica who reportedly gave a handkerchief to Jesus so he could wipe sweat from his face on the way to Calvary, with some genus plants having markings that resemble the markings on the sacred handkerchief. ‘Heraud’ is a speedwell cultivar that is noted for its upright plant habit and long summer bloom of deep violet-blue flowers. Dense, erect, top-tapered spikes (racemes) of tiny violet-blue flowers bloom from late spring to late summer, topping dark green, lance-shaped leaves.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Veronica ‘Heraud’ generally exhibits excellent pest and disease resistance, meaning serious infestations are rare. The primary threat to this Speedwell comes from cultural management rather than pests. Root rot is the main concern and develops exclusively in poorly-drained soils where water pools, especially during colder, wet periods. To mitigate this risk, always amend heavy clay soils before planting and adhere to the medium water needs. Fortunately, deer and rabbits usually find Veronica ‘Heraud’ unpalatable and tend to avoid browsing on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Speedwell suitable for?
Veronica ‘Heraud’ Speedwell is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8. Ensure your planting zone falls within this range for perennial success.
How large does Veronica ‘Heraud’ grow?
This perennial reaches a mature height between 1 to 1.5 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 0.75 to 1 foot wide, maintaining a neat, upright habit.
What sun exposure does Veronica ‘Heraud’ need?
For the best performance and most prolific bloom display, Veronica ‘Heraud’ requires full sun, though it can handle light shade.
When does Speedwell bloom?
This beautiful cultivar showcases its violet-blue flowers over a long season, typically blooming from May through September.
Conclusion
For gardeners seeking reliable, vibrant color with minimal input, Veronica ‘Heraud’ Speedwell is an outstanding choice. Its upright form and long-lasting display of violet-blue spikes offer significant structural and chromatic value throughout the summer garden. Before planting, confirm your site offers full sun and consistently well-draining soil to ensure your Veronica ‘Heraud’ thrives for years to come.
Companion Planting
When selecting companions for Veronica ‘Heraud’, focus on plants that share similar needs for sun and medium moisture, but offer contrasting textures or bloom times to extend garden interest. Silver-leaved Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) provide a soft textural contrast that plays beautifully against the fine spikes even when the Speedwell is not actively blooming. Consider pairing it with plants that bloom later, such as Coneflowers (Echinacea) or shorter ornamental grasses, ensuring continuous coverage once the major flush of bloom on Veronica ‘Heraud’ begins to fade. Good neighbors include Daylilies, Salvias, and hardy Geraniums.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the ideal time to assess your Veronica ‘Heraud’ planting; remove any old, dead foliage from the base of the plant before new growth emerges. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer sparingly, as too much fertilizer can result in weak, floppy stems, challenging the upright habit of this Speedwell. Summer care centers on consistent watering, especially during hot, dry stretches, and deadheading spent flower spikes to encourage rebloom. In autumn, avoid heavy pruning; simply trim back foliage if it looks unsightly, as the crowns benefit from protection provided by the basal growth heading into winter.
