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What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

Posted by perennialfan273 zone 5 (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 2, 10 at 12:37

I've been considering adding veronica to my garden, but there are so many different cultivars to choose from, I'm having trouble deciding!

I'm seriously considering
-Red Fox
-Royal Candles
-Eveline
-Purplicious

If you guys know of any other good cultivars, please tell me!!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

I've grown most of these in my gardens.

'Red Fox' is a good one, although somewhat susceptible to PM. Combines very nicely with Coreopsis.

'Royal Candles' is one of my favourites, although also not as "mildew-proof" as touted by the industry. I believe that due to its dwarf stature, it hides any symptoms rather well. ;)

'Purplicious' is a slow grower, but impressive after a few years in the garden.

I seem to recall one called 'High Five' that re-bloomed the best for me out of several, including the above. It didn't get PM.

Veronica in general however, IMO, is not a "great" garden plant, at least around here -- season of interest is relatively short, and it tends to have disease issues. I would consider it a second or maybe third-tier plant in terms of relative usefulness/desirability.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

  • Posted by mxk3 z5b/6 MI (My Page) on
    Tue, Feb 2, 10 at 15:44

"Blue Charm" (or "Lavender Charm") is an outstanding lilac-colored veronica - the long spikes are quite graceful/elegant, I just love this plant.

"Icicle" is a lovely pure white cultivar, similar in height to "Blue Charm".

"Goodness Grows" is a great low-grower - short plant, but elongated spikes in relation to the size of the plant (none of that short, stubby spike business with Goodness Grows).

Why "Sunny Border Blue" continues to be as popular as it is is beyond me - its spikes are stubby, the leaves more often than not are deformed, and it gets diseased to boot - it's an awkward-looking diseased mess of a plant.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

My experience with veronica is that they consistently look great the first year and go downhill after that. I don't grow them anymore. My red fox does have a great color so I let it grow even though it just lays there on the ground. I guess it depends on the conditions in your own area/garden.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

  • Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
    Tue, Feb 2, 10 at 20:52

There are many inferior cultivars which have created a bad rap for this plant.

Two superior cultivars (that I'm familar with) are:

'Jiles Van Hees’
'Purplicious'

They need full sun and you can't let em dry out. The flower spikes tend to go limp when its very hot (90s) or when they need water.

'Purplicious' has been a fast, vigorous and floracious grower for me. It is one of my favorite perrenials and I highly recommend it. Gets 7 hours of sun.

I cut the dead spikes off in late July and get another heavy bloom in September.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

I grow three of the ones you mentioned, plus a few others.

'Red Fox' didn't do so great for me- lacked vigor. It might have done better if I had put it in the best spot in my garden, rather than the average spot it is in now.

Last year was the first time my 'Icicle' bloomed. It is a very healthy plant, but for some reason I did not care for the blooms. The white was a pure color, but I didn't like the way it looked against the green stems. Kind of looked weedy. Lol! I know, I am picky ;-)

'Eveline' is a very nice plant. It stands at about a foot tall with pink/purple flowers. Downside is that it gets some ugly black spot (no mildew so far, which is interesting). It reseeds a bit too, which is neat. And seedlings come true!
-perennialfan, I have seeds of Eveline if you are interested...

I agree with Coolplantsguy, 'Royal Candles' is a nice plant. Shorter than the others I mentioned, but wonderfully floriferous and great color. Gets bad mildew after blooming though. Cut back and it will grow again.

P.S. A great look-alike alternative to Veronica is Teucrium hircanicum, Iranian Germander.
CMK

Here is a link that might be useful: Teucrium hircanicum 'Purple Tails'


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

Had royal candles. Looks great. However as others said had mildew problems. Had it planted in a side bed with bee balm.....that became my mildew zone


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

I have and love all of these Veronicas:
'Red Fox' and 'Van Hees'
'Icicle'
'Eveline' is a very robust plant. Initially, I had difficulty combining it with other colors in my border.

I'm adding 'Royal Candles' this year. Just purchased it on-line from Lazyssfarm.com.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

  • Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
    Fri, Feb 5, 10 at 21:53

For those who had mildew problems how many hours of sun did your plants have?

I had veronica in 6 hours sun...mildew. Veronica in 10 hours sun...nice clean foilage.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

I love my Sunny Border Blue! It was the one powerhouse bloomer for me this past season. It bloomed it's head off! and looked great all summer into fall.I just sheared it off after the first bloom and it bloomed all over again. I can live with that! lol Here's one pic:


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RE: And What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultiva

Another shot of Sunny Border Blue. Second bloom. Lovely!


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

My favourites have been 'Giles van Hees', a dwarf pink one, and 'Icicle", medium height, white. Both are long-blooming and mildew-free. I had no luck at all with 'Sunny Border Blue' and only moderate success with Goodness Grows, Red Fox, Minuet. Blue-purples that have done well for me have been 'Blue Bouquet' (a seed grown variety?), and Romiley Purple.


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RE: What is your favorite veronica spicata/longifolia cultivar??

royal candles has a brown after bloom color at the lower end of each candle which progresses up the candle as the season progresses. Mildew too. I wasn't sorry when it appeared to be short lived after 3 yrs. Purple not blue.

Sunny border is a better blue color, and I've finally learned how to propagate it.
I hate the post bloom look. It is a sorry sight in the winter garden. I was going to move it further away from my window for this reason. But yah know.... didn't get 'er done!


 
 

 

 


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