Ornamental · Plantaginaceae
Spike Speedwell
Veronica spicata
Want blue spikes all summer? Give speedwell full sun and soil that drains.
Full sun
Every 5–10 days
USDA 3–8
2–3 ft · 0.6–0.9 m
Overview
Spike speedwell is one of those easy, no-drama perennials that just gets on with it. From early summer it puts up skinny spires of blue, pink, or white, and yes, it's a member of the plantain family. Pop it in a sunny bed and the pollinators will show up for the spikes from June into August. Cold winters? Not a problem, since it's hardy from zones 3 to 8.
It grows into a neat little clump, somewhere around 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) tall and about as wide. Once it's settled, it barely asks for anything, and deer and rabbits usually walk right past it. The only real dealbreaker is wet feet, so the soil's got to drain.
Give it sun and decent drainage and speedwell pretty much runs itself. Trim off the finished spikes and you'll often get a second flush in fall, which is a nice bonus. Split the clump every few years and it'll stay full and healthy for ages.
Care
The short version: full sun, soil that's moist but drains sharply, and steady water that never turns to swamp. Snip the spent spikes to keep the flowers coming, and split the clump every few years so it stays strong.
Light
Speedwell flowers best in full sun, so aim for 6 or more hours of direct light a day. It'll cope with light or partial shade, but a shady spot just leaves it stretching and blooming thin, and who wants that?
Water
Keep it in steady, even moisture, not bone dry and not soggy. Once it's established it can handle a short dry spell, but those shallow roots won't put up with a long drought. And don't let the soil sit wet, especially over winter, or root rot creeps in.
Soil
It's happy in average to rich loam or silt that holds a bit of moisture but still drains. A pH between 6.0 and 7.5 is fine, and honestly, winter drainage matters more than anything, because heavy, wet clay is what does these plants in.
Temperature
This one's tough as nails in the cold, hardy all the way down to -40°F (-40°C) and fine up to about 86°F (30°C). That's exactly why it sails through winter across zones 3 to 8.
Humidity
Regular outdoor air is all it wants, so there's no humidity number to chase. What actually helps is good airflow, since still, crowded air over damp soil is what leads to root trouble.
Feeding
It's not a big eater. One balanced feed or a topdressing of compost in spring carries it right through the season, and piling on more just gives you floppy growth. Less is more here.
Pruning
Snip or shear the spent spikes as they fade and you'll keep fresh flowers coming. After the main flush, cut the plant back to its basal rosette for a shot at a fall repeat. Then just tidy up the old growth in late winter or early spring.
Repotting
Since it's a garden perennial, you divide it instead of potting it up. Split the clump every 3 to 4 years to keep it vigorous, especially once the middle thins out or the flowers start to drop off.
Size & spacing
A grown plant hits 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) tall and spreads about 24 to 30 inches (61 to 76 cm) wide. Space them roughly that far apart so each clump has room to fill in and air can move through.
When to plant
Speedwell just follows the calendar. Start seed indoors a few weeks before your last frost, get plants in the ground once spring soil warms up, and the spikes will open from June through August. Easy enough, right?
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Sow: 6 to 8 weeks before last spring frost
- Plant: After last spring frost once soil has warmed
- Harvest: June to August (late spring to mid-summer)
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 3–8
Temperature: down to -40°C
Troubleshooting
Speedwell doesn't cause much fuss, and when it does, it's nearly always down to too much water or not enough sun. Spot the early signs below and the fix is usually just a better spot or a quick snip.
Droopy, yellow leaves and mushy dark roots
If the leaves are wilting and yellowing and the roots feel soft and dark, that's root rot, and it comes from soggy soil, not thirst. Winter's the worst for it, when cold ground stays wet and those shallow roots just sit there soaking. Lift the crown for a peek, move the plant somewhere that drains well, and don't try to save any chunk that's gone soft and mushy.
Fix:
- Reduce watering and improve drainage
- Move or replant into a sharply drained, raised, or amended site
- Remove and discard severely rotted plants
Barely any flowers and floppy, stretched stems
Not many flowers, plus stems that flop and stretch? That usually means too much shade, and leaving the old spent spikes on the plant doesn't help either. Move it into full sun where it gets 6 or more hours a day, then shear off the finished spikes to bring on a fresh flush.
Fix:
- Site in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun)
- Deadhead or shear spent spikes to promote rebloom
- Cut back to the basal rosette after the main flush
Toxicity
Good news if you've got pets or kids around: speedwell isn't considered toxic. The extension references don't flag it, and it's not on the ASPCA toxic plant list, so cats, dogs, and grazing animals can all hang out in the garden with it. The worst a big mouthful might do is cause a brief, mild stomach upset, same as most any plant.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats None
Speedwell's fine around cats, since there aren't any toxic compounds on record. If a cat chews a leaf, the worst it'll get is a brief, mild stomach upset, and really only from eating a lot.
Dogs None
Dogs can hang out in the garden with speedwell no problem. There's no toxicity warning on it and it's not on the ASPCA list, so a curious chew just means keeping half an eye out.
Horses Safe
Horses are totally fine near speedwell. It's got no known toxins, and a graze here or there won't hurt them at all.
Rabbits Safe
Rabbits mostly leave speedwell alone anyway, and even if one nibbles, it won't do any harm.
Livestock Safe
Cattle, goats, and sheep can graze around speedwell safely, since none of its parts are toxic to them.
Birds Safe
Birds are perfectly safe with speedwell, and they'll often stop by the spikes for a bit of pollen and nectar with nothing to worry about.
People Safe
Speedwell's safe to handle and to have around kids. It's not a food plant, so nothing on it is meant to be eaten, but a nibbled leaf won't do more than maybe cause a mild stomach upset.
No special handling precautions; generally considered safe around pets and people.
Varieties
There's a handful of named speedwell cultivars out there, mostly sorted by flower color and how they grow. Here are the ones you're most likely to run into.
Icicle
Icicle brings clean white flowers that really pop at the front of a border.
Rosea
Rosea swaps the usual blue for soft pink spikes.
Royal Candles (Glory)
Royal Candles, which you'll also see called Glory, stays compact and neat under deep violet-blue spikes.
Red Fox (Rotfuchs)
Red Fox, also known as Rotfuchs, grabs attention with its rosy-red to deep pink spikes.
How to propagate
Making more speedwell couldn't be simpler. Split a clump, sow some seed, or root a few cuttings in summer, whatever's easiest for you.
DivisionEasy
Early spring as shoots emerge, or early fall · One growing season
Dividing is far and away the easiest way to get more speedwell. In early spring when the shoots are just poking up, or in early fall, dig up the whole clump, break it into pieces with your hands, and replant them. Each piece needs just one growing season to get going.
SeedModerate
Indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost, or outdoors in early spring · Germinates in about 14 to 21 days; flowers later that season or the next
Seed takes a bit more patience, but it's not hard. Start it indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost, or sow it outside in early spring, and just press it onto moist mix without covering it, since it needs light to sprout. You'll see seedlings in 14 to 21 days, and they'll bloom either later that year or the next.
Stem cuttingsModerate
Late spring to early summer · A few weeks to root
You can clone one from cuttings too, taken in late spring or early summer. Snip a 4 to 6 inch tip, pull off the lower leaves, and stick it in a well-drained mix, where it'll root over a few weeks.
Myths
Speedwell will poison your cats and dogs.
Nope, not true. NC State Extension doesn't give spike speedwell any toxicity warning, and it's not on the ASPCA toxic plant list either, so it's considered safe around pets. Sure, scarfing down a big pile of any plant can cause a brief, passing stomach upset, but that's true of just about everything green.
Speedwell needs soggy, always-wet soil to be happy.
It likes moisture, but it can't stand sitting in it. Wet, poorly drained ground brings on root rot, while an established plant handles a bit of drought just fine. So go for steady water and sharp drainage, and you're set.