Speedwell (Veronica 'Sweet Lullaby')
Veronica 'Sweet Lullaby' Speedwell offers soft baby pink blooms in summer. This dwarf perennial is low maintenance and handles sun exposure.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ is a charming dwarf Speedwell celebrated for its compact habit and delicate summer color. This herbaceous perennial forms a neat, bushy mound, making it ideal for edging and front borders where space is limited. Gardeners value this cultivar for its low maintenance requirements and long bloom period.
Blooming profusely from June through August, Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ features spikes of soft baby pink flowers rising just above the foliage. Discovered as a seedling of Veronica ‘Giles van Hees’, this particular Speedwell adds subtle texture and color contrast to sunny perennial beds. It performs best when given consistent moisture and excellent soil drainage.
This reliable plant offers significant aesthetic appeal without demanding constant attention. Its tidy nature ensures it remains a neat feature in the landscape, providing vibrant texture until late summer. Ensure you site your Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ where its small stature can be appreciated.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Soft baby pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal growth, plant Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ where it receives full sun, though it tolerates light shade gracefully. The most critical requirement for this Speedwell is well-drained soil; heavy, poorly draining ground can lead to root rot issues, especially over winter. Aim to plant during the spring or fall, amending the soil to be average or medium in moisture retention before planting.
Consistent moisture is key to maintaining the vigor and bloom quality of Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’. While classified as medium water needs, avoid letting the soil become waterlogged. Applying a layer of organic mulch will significantly help regulate soil temperature and retain necessary moisture, reducing the need for frequent irrigation.
Deadheading is generally beneficial for this plant. Promptly remove spent flower spikes to encourage the plant to produce additional blooms throughout the summer season. If the foliage becomes tattered later in the year, you can cut the entire clump back to its basal growth, revitalizing its appearance right before winter dormancy.
Landscape Uses
Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ excels in locations where low-growing, long-blooming perennials are needed. Its petite height makes it an outstanding edging plant along pathways or the front border of mixed perennial beds. Consider massing several plants together to create a wave of soft pink color throughout the summer months.
Due to its compact, clump-forming nature, this Speedwell is perfect for rock gardens, where its low profile blends beautifully with stone textures. It also performs reliably in foundation plantings where neatness is required, and easily adapts to container gardening if provided with sharp drainage. Allow Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ to spill slightly over pot edges for a soft transition.
When designing, pair this pink-flowering Speedwell with plants that share similar sun and water needs, such as creeping thyme, low ornamental grasses, or silvery foliage plants which will contrast nicely with its green leaves.
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.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.‘Sweet Lullaby’ is a dwarf speedwell that grows to only 6” tall. It is a clump-forming speedwell that features a small bushy foliage mound of toothed, lance-shaped, green leaves from which rise soft baby-pink flowers in tapered-at-the-top spikes atop stems rising above the foliage to 6” tall.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ is notably free from serious insect or disease issues, contributing to its low maintenance profile. The primary cultural concern revolves around soil moisture management. Root rot is a significant risk if the plant sits in wet, heavy, poorly-drained soils, especially during winter dormancy periods. Always ensure sharp drainage is maintained. Squirrels and larger pests generally avoid this particular Speedwell variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Speedwell suitable for?
Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ is hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8, offering reliable perennial performance in a wide range of climates.
How large does Speedwell grow?
This dwarf Speedwell typically matures to a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet tall, with a corresponding spread of 0.5 to 1 foot wide.
What sun exposure does Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ need?
This variety thrives best when planted in full sun, although it possesses the flexibility to tolerate light shade conditions in the garden.
When does Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ bloom?
You can expect soft baby pink flowers from this plant throughout the summer months, specifically from June through August.
Conclusion
Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ is an exceptionally tidy and rewarding choice for gardeners seeking reliable, low-maintenance color in sunny borders. Its dwarf size and attractive bloom time ensure it remains useful year after year. Confirm your garden meets the USDA Zone 4-8 requirements and select a spot with excellent drainage to enjoy the best performance from this charming Speedwell.
Companion Planting
When integrating Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ into mixed borders, choose companions that require similar exposures, namely full sun and medium moisture. Plants with contrasting foliage textures provide excellent visual interest against the small, green leaves of the Speedwell. Consider pairing it with Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) for silvery contrast or low-growing Sedums, which appreciate dry, sunny conditions typical of where Speedwell thrives.
For companions that share the preference for well-drained soil, look toward certain varieties of Geraniums or hardy Alliums. Since Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ is low-growing, utilize taller companions behind it to create layers of interest, ensuring its delicate pink flowers are not completely obscured by taller neighboring plants.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring care should focus on cleanup and renewal. Once new growth begins, apply a light layer of organic mulch around the base, avoiding direct contact with the crown, to conserve moisture as temperatures rise. This is also a good time to divide any clumps of Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ that have become congested, though this is usually only necessary every few years.
Summer maintenance centers on bloom promotion. Regularly deadhead the faded flower spikes on your Veronica ‘Sweet Lullaby’ to encourage repeat blooming into late summer. Consistent, deep watering during dry spells will prevent stress, especially as the plant is performing its best flowering duties.
Autumn care is minimal for this Zone 4-8 perennial. While deadheading stops naturally as the season ends, you can perform a light trim of the plant down to 2-3 inches above the soil just before the ground freezes. Excessive cutting back in the fall is generally discouraged.
