Grow Veronica Flowers in Your Cutting Garden
(Veronica spicata and V. longifolia) Speedwell
The Veronicas that are good for cut flowers are also known as Speedwell. They’re low-growing perennial plants that put up spiky flower stems that bloom from the bottom up, on a fairly long stem. The spiky flower stems offer some texture in a bouquet with their unopened buds along the stem looking like pretty little rows of dots in a bouquet. And they add a nice vertical element to arrangements.
The flowers feed many pollinators, attracting native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
The plant is from northern Europe and Asia.
There are two species of veronica for cut flower use, Veronica spicata and V. longifolia. V. spicata is commonly known as speedwell or spiked speedwell. And the V. longifolia is sometimes referred to as long-leaf speedwell, because it’s leaves are a little longer and narrower. It tends to grow taller than V. spicata. Many of the veronicas available in the nursery trade are V. spicata or the scientific name is not given at all.
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Veronica flowers and plants
Veronica sports flower spikes from about 6” and more long in blues, white, purples, and pinks. Their flower heights depend on the variety with the best ones for cutting flowers ranging from 16” to 30” tall. When selecting Veronica plants check their final height and spread.
They bloom in late spring to early summer, and with deadheading, will repeat blooming sporadically through the summer. Be sure to cut the flower stems close to the main plant for longer stems on the rebloom.
When selecting Veronica plants check their final height and spread. There’s one particularly tall variety of Veronica, V. longifolia ‘Bushy Boy’, that grows to 3 ft. tall and wide. See more on that one in Favorite Varieties below.Veronica dies back in winter, emerging again in early spring.
How to grow Veronica
USDA zones 3-8; Sun: full to part sun; Water: regular garden water.
Plant veronica in full sun or it can take a little shade. Easy to grow in well-drained, average amended garden soil. Cut back flower stems to keep the plant producing more.
The easiest way to start them is by buying plants. Seed for veronica are available. They have a fairly long germination time. I like starting with plants in 4” pots, they are much quicker and so many varieties are available from online nurseries.
Enjoy the first bloom in late spring. Then, by mid-summer the plant can be cut way back to 8”, or less for smaller plants, and side-dressed with some organic fertilizer and compost and it will grow back to flower again for the rest of the summer and into fall.
Some sources claim veronica is deer resistant and rabbit resistant. I can’t vouch for that. I think it always has to do with the deer is in your area. But if you dare grow them outside of deer fencing, they do make a pretty perennial flower garden plant. Be sure to deadhead them, and harvest them for a tidier appearance.
How to harvest Veronica flowers
Harvest the flowers when the lowest flowers have started to open. Cut them at the bottom of the stem. Post-harvest is simply to place in cool water, or warm water, and then condition in a cool dark place.
Favorite varieties
I simply go for the colors I like on the longest stems. Some favorites for blue are ‘Royal Candles’, at 12-18” and ‘Blue Skywalker’ at 28-30”.
For white I like ‘White Icicle’, at 18-26”. And for pink, or rose colored, there’s ‘Red Fox’, at 18-26”.
And V. longifolia ‘Bushy Boy’ which grows to 3’ tall and 2 ½’ wide, and produces loads of blue cut flowers. Now the flower stems aren’t 3’ long, but the shrubby plant overall is. Bushy little plant with flowering spikes of medium blue flowers By mid-summer the plant can be cut way back to 8”, side-dressed with organic fertilizer and compost and it will grow back to flower again for the rest of the summmer into fall.. It dies all the way back in winter.
Sources for Veronica plants & seeds
Many online and brick and mortar nurseries carry Veronica spicata in the spring. Ask your local nursery if they can get some in, demand usually inspires supply.
I always recommend that you buy from your local sources, it is the best thing for keeping local economies strong and that benefits everyone.
But when you can’t find what you need, there are many excellent online/mail order nurseries around.
Bluestoneperennials.com is one that has many of my favorite cutting flowers. They have a nice selection of Veronica spicata varieties. I go for the tallest ones.
For Veronica longifolia, one source is Annie’s Annuals and Perennials, offering ‘Bushy Boy’.
Seed for Veronica spicata, growing with flowers to 2 ft. tall, can be found at Outside Pride.
Special Info on Veronica Flowers
Some sources claim veronica is deer resistant and rabbit resistant. I can’t vouch for that. I think it always has to do with the deer is in your area. But if you dare grow them outside of deer fencing, they do make a pretty perennial flower garden plant. After deadheading, the plant looks tidy and not cut up.
Flowers to go with Veronica
Echinacea
These daisy-like flowers offer a variety of colors on long stems. They feed pollinators and bloom summer-fall.
Alstroemerias
One of the best flowers to grow overall. Bloom late spring to late fall, long-lasting in bouquets.
Bee Balm
Great for bees and for bouquets. Bee balm lends and earthy fragrance to bouquets. Easy to grow.
Yarrow
Two types of yarrow make great fresh cut flowers, one of them is also beautiful dried for wreaths and bouquets.
