Speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Noah Williams')

Overview

Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’, commonly known as Speedwell, is a highly valued herbaceous perennial prized for its vertical accent and interesting foliage. This cultivar stands out due to its upright, bushy habit, offering a strong structural element in cottage or mixed perennial gardens. While many Speedwells feature blue or violet flowers, this type showcases striking white terminal spikes against attractively variegated leaves.

This variety maintains manageable dimensions, making it perfect for border placement where consistent moisture and full sun are provided. It offers reliable, low-maintenance performance across USDA Zones 5 through 8, weathering garden conditions well if drainage remains sharp.

The dense, tapered flower spikes of Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ bloom reliably from early summer into mid-summer, attracting essential pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its structure provides excellent contrast to mounding or sprawling plants, ensuring year-round visual interest even when not in bloom, thanks to the creamy-white margins on its green leaves.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1.5-2 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: White
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

For optimal performance, plant Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ in the spring or fall. Choose a location that receives full sun, although it tolerates light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. The soil must be average, well-drained, and hold medium moisture; sharp drainage, particularly heading into winter, is crucial to prevent root rot issues common to this plant.

Watering should be consistent, as Speedwell has shallow roots and does not tolerate dry soil conditions well. While established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, aim for regular moisture, ensuring the soil is never waterlogged. Fertilizing is rarely necessary if the soil is reasonably fertile.

Maintenance for this particular Speedwell is easy. To encourage a second flush of blooms, promptly remove spent flower spikes once they fade—a process known as deadheading. After the initial flowering concludes, you can shear the plants back to their basal foliage mound to maintain a tidy appearance throughout the rest of the season.

Landscape Uses

Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ excels when integrated into structured plantings where its upright stature can provide vertical lift. It looks striking planted along cottage garden borders, providing crisp white accents that punctuate softer colors nearby. Its manageable height of up to two feet also makes it suitable for the mid-border layer or tucked into foundation plantings where consistent sun prevails.

The fresh cut flower quality is another significant benefit, allowing gardeners to easily bring the vibrant spikes indoors. Consider pairing this variegation-highlighted Speedwell with plants that foreground its neat habit, perhaps beneath taller ornamental grasses or alongside low-growing groundcovers that will define the edges of the bed.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

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). This species is native to northern Europe and Asia. Flowers typically bloom from mid-June to August. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Cultivars with blue, violet-blue, pink and white flowers are available in commerce.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.Specific epithet from Latin means spiked in reference to the flower spikes on this plant.‘Noah Williams’ is an erect, bushy, clump-forming veronica which typically grows to 12-24” tall and is noted for its variegated foliage. It is reportedly a mutant of Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’. Dense, vertical, white-flowered terminal spikes (racemes to 8” long) tower above the foliage in late spring to mid-summer. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves (to 2” long) have creamy-white margins.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ Speedwell generally boasts excellent pest and disease resistance, meaning you should rarely encounter serious insect infestations or fungal issues under proper conditions. The primary concern relates to poor soil structure. Root rot is the most significant potential problem, occurring specifically when this perennial is situated in overly wet or poorly drained soils, especially during winter dormancy.

To prevent rot, ensure your planting site has sharp drainage; amending heavy clay soils with grit or compost is highly recommended before planting. If the plant appears stunted or foliage yellows excessively, check soil moisture levels immediately and adjust your watering regime accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Speedwell suitable for?

This Speedwell is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 5 through 8. Be sure your garden location falls within this range for the best long-term success.

How large does Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ grow?

This cultivar typically achieves a height between 1.5 to 2 feet tall, with a spread of 1 to 1.5 feet wide, forming a neat, upright clump.

What sun exposure does Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ need?

Full sun is the ideal requirement for this plant to produce the most abundant flower spikes. It can tolerate some light afternoon shade, which might be beneficial in the hottest summer locations.

When does Speedwell bloom?

Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ offers a prolonged bloom period, typically beginning heavy flowering in June and continuing through August before needing a hard cleanup.

Conclusion

Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ provides essential vertical interest and crisp white flowers with the added bonus of variegated foliage, making it a low-effort, high-reward component of any sunny border. As a robust Speedwell variety, it requires minimal care beyond ensuring sufficient moisture and excellent drainage. Before planting, confirm your USDA hardiness zone falls within the 5 to 8 range for enduring beauty next season.

Companion Planting

When integrating Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ into your perennial beds, selecting companions that thrive in similar full-sun, medium-water conditions enhances the overall design. Consider pairing it with silver-foliaged plants or those that contrast in texture, such as the feathery plumes of Astilbe (if adequate moisture is provided) or the mounding habit of Daylilies (Hemerocallis). Plants that benefit from the air circulation created by the spike’s vertical growth are excellent neighbors.

For a classic cottage look, allow low-growing plants like creeping Thyme or creeping Phlox to spill near the base of the Speedwell. This planting strategy not only softens the edges of the border but also helps shade the shallow roots of the Veronica during intense summer heat, contributing to overall plant health for your Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’.

Wildlife Benefits

The dense, upright flower spikes of Veronica spicata ‘Noah Williams’ are highly attractive to beneficial insects, confirming its reputation as a garden polliniator host. Bees, in particular, find the mass of tiny white flowers an excellent food source during the mid-summer landscape lull. While the foliage is deer and rabbit-resistant (a major plus for the gardener), the blooms actively welcome butterflies seeking nectar.

Planting a cluster of these Speedwells can create a substantial landing pad for pollinators, increasing the biodiversity of your garden space through the summer months. Utilizing this plant provides consistent, reliable support for local insect populations without adding significant maintenance burdens to your schedule.