Veronica spicata Purpleicious

Veronica spicata 'Purpleicious' forms a low, dense and upright clump with long and abundant dark purple flower spikes for several weeks between late spring and summer. Its dark green foliage is disease-free. It thrives in sunny flower beds and borders where its flowers nourish bees and butterflies. It is also a good plant for flower pots and bouquets.

Veronica 'Purpleicious' is a Dutch horticultural creation (Verschoor Horticulture) dating back to 2005 belonging to the Harmony series. It is a hybrid cultivar, resulting from cross-breeding the botanical species Veronica spicata, the spiked speedwell. It is a herbaceous perennial plant of the plantain family, formerly classified in the figwort family. Very resistant to cold (-30 °C (-22°F)), this selection has foliage that is resistant to leaf spot diseases (mildew, powdery mildew, rust...) and it tolerates limestone soils well.

This 'Purpleicious' speedwell has dense, upright and low vegetation, reaching about 20 cm (8in) high and 30-40 cm (12-16in) in diameter. Its flowering spikes rise 50 cm (20in) from the ground. Its hairy stems bear lanceolate, narrow, beautiful dark green leaves, with finely toothed edges. Between late May and August, the plant produces slender, upright floral spikes, up to 30 cm (12in) high, at the end of the stems. Each spike consists of tiny star-shaped, nectar-rich purple-violet flowers. The deciduous vegetation dries up in winter.

This Veronica 'Purpleicious' should be planted in any well-drained, not too dry, even limestone soil, preferably in full sun. It will be very useful for dressing the base of roses or in flower borders, combined with pink echinaceas ('Butterfly Kisses') or white ('Kismet White') and perennial blue, purple, white or pink sage. Its spikes add height and intensity to any setting. This speedwell can be grown in pots to decorate the balcony or terrace. Its flowers are also beautiful in summer bouquets.