Wizard of Ahhs is one of the first speedwells to open each summer, sending up dense, chunky spikes of violet-blue that crowd the upper half of a low, spreading plant. At about 14 to 16 inches tall and nearly 2 feet across, it fills the front of a border without flopping.
Bees work the spikes steadily through early and midsummer, and the upright shape gives welcome contrast to daisies and coneflowers. It is easy to grow, shrugs off deer and salt spray, and makes a handy cut flower for small arrangements.
What it looks like
Dense, upright flower spikes about 4 to 6 inches long, packed with tiny violet-blue florets, rise evenly across the top half of the plant. The spikes are thick and tapered, deep violet-blue at the tips and slightly lighter where the florets are open lower down. Foliage is medium green, lance-shaped and finely toothed, forming a neat base below the flowers. The plant has a low, wide, rounded habit about 14 to 16 inches tall and 18 to 22 inches wide. At peak bloom the entire top surface is a carpet of violet-blue spikes with only a little green showing between them.
Growing it with lavender
Its violet-blue spikes echo the shape of lavender wands and open just ahead of the main lavender bloom, so planting it in front of lavender in a sunny, well-drained bed stretches the blue season.
Care
Plant in full sun to part shade in average to fertile soil that drains well but does not stay dry for long; water regularly during dry spells. Hardy in zones 4 to 8 and needs a cold winter to bloom well. Deadhead spent spikes for more flowers, and shear the plant back after bloom if it looks tired.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Veronica
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Flower color: Violet-blue
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Foliage: Medium green
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Growth habit: Low, wide mound
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Mature size: 14–16 in tall × 18–22 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 4–8
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Light: full sun, part sun to part shade
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Bloom start: Early-June
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Peak bloom: Mid-June
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Bloom pattern: Long Blooming
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Deer resistance: Resistant
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Pollinator value: Great
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.
Lavender companion · grow guide
Community Grower Report
