Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell: Rosy Purple Brushes for Midsummer

Very Van Gogh spike speedwell looks like a clump of paintbrushes dipped in rosy purple. Each main spike, 4 to 6 inches long, is ringed by up to a dozen shorter side spikes on heavily branched stems, so the top of the plant becomes a dense candelabra of color. Honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds all come to visit.

The name fits. It is a painterly plant, and it pairs naturally with lavender's own brushstrokes.

Very Van Gogh at a glance

Spikes beside spikes

Most companion advice for lavender is about contrast. Very Van Gogh is about echo. Its upright spikes repeat lavender's form, so a planting of both reads as one long wave of purple texture. The rosy tone is warmer than lavender's blue-violet, enough to tell them apart up close while blending from across the yard.

Timing helps too. Speedwell opens in early July and peaks in late July, overlapping the end of the main lavender bloom and carrying spiky color into late summer after you have harvested. Because it is bushier and wider than tall, it makes a good front-row plant along a lavender border.

One difference to plan for: speedwell likes a little more moisture than lavender. Set it at the outer edge of the bed, where a hose can reach it during dry spells without soaking the lavender crowns. Try layouts in the Companion Plant Planner.

Care tips

• Soil: average and well drained, but not left bone dry for long.
• Water: in hot, dry spells bloom slows and lower leaves brown; a deep drink fixes it.
• Deadheading: cut each spent spike back to the next set of side buds. This is the key to the long show.
• Air flow: space plants to limit powdery and downy mildew in humid weather.
• Winter: well-drained soil avoids crown rot. Cut back spent stems in fall or early spring.
• Dividing: split crowded clumps every few years in spring.

Cut and dried

The spikes are good for cutting and fair for drying. A handful of Very Van Gogh in a jar with fresh lavender is about as purple as a bouquet can get. Plan cutting beds with the Cut Flower Planner.

Formats offered

It comes as a full 72-cell plug tray for growers and long borders, and as a bare root plant for adding a few clumps to a home garden. See each product page for current availability.

Frequently asked questions

Is the color pink or purple?

Rosy purple: more purple and less red than many pink speedwells, and warmer than violet types.

Will it bloom at the same time as lavender?

It overlaps the tail end of the main lavender bloom and keeps going into late summer.

Keep exploring

• Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell Bare Root Plant
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Cut Flower Planner